Sun Moon Lake
Sun Moon Lake is the largest body of water in Taiwan as well as a tourist attraction. Situated in Yuchi, Nantou, the area around the Sun Moon Lake is home to the Thao tribe, one of aboriginal tribes in Taiwan. Sun Moon Lake surrounds a tiny island called Lalu Island. The east side of the lake resembles a sun while the west side resembles a moon, hence the name.
Sun Moon Lake is located 748 m (2,454 ft) above sea level. It is 27 m (89 ft) deep and has a surface area of approximately 7.93 km2 (3.06 sq mi). The area surrounding the lake has many trails for hiking.
Cycling around Sun Moon Lake
Said to be one of “10 Breathtaking Cycling Routes” around the world by CNN News in 2012, I was able to experience the Yuetan Bike Path around Sun Moon Lake from Shuishe, Taiwan. You can choose to do the leisurely 12-kilometer (7.5-mile) in-and-out section, or cycle around the entire 29 kilometers (18 miles).
Formosan Aboriginal Cultural Village
Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village is close to Sun Moon Lake and covers an area of 62 hectares. This diverse theme park is suitable for people of all ages, and is divided into 3 main theme areas: European Garden, Joy to the World, and Aboriginal Tribal Areas. The overall layout in the park is perfect. Besides providing an exquisite experience to learn about the aboriginal culture, the park also has the latest thrill rides for visitors of all ages to experience.
Wen Wu Temple
The temple to enshrine and worship Confucius, Guan Gong and Yue Faye.
Originally, there were two temples on the Sun Moon Lake coast. However, due to the Japanese government plan to generate electricity using the lake, they built a dam and made the water level raised up. The two temples were then torn down and rebuilt at the present location of Wen Wu Temple in 1938.
After the handover of Taiwan from Japan to the Republic of China in 1945, the government spent money to develop the tourism industry around the lake area. Wen Wu temple was rebuilt again in 1969 to make it greater, bigger and looks more like Chinese palace style
Wen Wu Hiking Trail
Due to their precarious height, the Year-of-Steps are nicknamed the “Stairway to Heaven”. There are 366 ascending steps, each representing one day of the year. The climbing of this entire stairway symbolizes the passing of a year. A date is carved on each of the stone steps, along with the names of internationally famous people who were born on the corresponding date.
CingJing Farm
Passing native forests, through towering gorges, you can immerse yourself in the fresh air and the scenic wild greenery of the Qingjing Veterans Farm.The Qingjing Veterans Farm is situated at the Renai Township of Nantou County,8 km north of Wushe Section, Tai 14A Route of Central Cross-Island Highway in Central Taiwan.It has been opened to public since February 20th, 1961;its altitude is 1,750 meters above the sea. The weather is generally mild all year round.
The Farm produces various kinds of fruits including: peaches, pears, plums,and kiwi fruit.
Facilities in the Farm include: the Tourist Center, the Green Green Grasslands, the Small Swiss Garden, the Recreation Center for visitors, the Shoushan Park, the Guest House and a Stock Nurturing Center.
The journey from Sun Moon Lake to Hualien requires a stop-over. Will put up a night at The Cotswold Villa. From The Cotswold Villa we can venture to Hehuashan.
Hehuanshan 合歡山
Hehuanshan is a 3,416 metres high mountain in Central Taiwan. The peak lies on the boundaries of Nantou and Hualien counties and is within the Taroko Gorge National Park.
Snow, rare in the rest of Taiwan, is relatively common on the mountain during winter months. The Hehuanshan Road leads most of the way up the mountain to Wuling, a saddle between the Main Peak and the East Peak of Hehuanshan. Wuling is the highest point on the island of Taiwan accessible by public roads.
There was at one point a ski lift on the mountain, but later, due to the inconsistency of snowfall, the lift was removed. Remains of the ski lift mechanism are still visible to hikers on the east peak trail.
From the Hehuanshan Road, a trail about one kilometer long leads to the summit of the main peak. At the summit, there is a weather station.
Hehuanshan is part of the Central Mountain Range (中央山脈) that makes up the backbone of Taiwan.
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