Hotels in Sun Moon Lake

Sun Moon Lake: Taiwan's Alpine Reservoir at 748 Metres

Sun Moon Lake sits in Nantou County, central Taiwan, at 748 metres above sea level — the island's largest natural lake, covering 7.93 square kilometres. The western half resembles a sun; the eastern half curves like a crescent moon, a shape visible from Ci'en Pagoda on the southern ridge. The Thao indigenous people have fished and farmed these shores for centuries, and their culture remains central to the lakeside town of Shuishe. Each September, the annual Moon Festival Swimming Carnival draws thousands of open-water swimmers across the 3-kilometre main channel.

Where to Stay and Getting Around

Hotels concentrate in three clusters: Shuishe Village on the northwest shore, Ita Thao on the east bank, and the hillside resort zone above Xuanguang Temple. Ferries connect all three piers, with boats running roughly every 30 minutes during daylight hours. Visitors cycling the 33-kilometre lakeside loop typically start from Shuishe and allow four to five hours. Taipei's High Speed Rail station at Taichung is the standard gateway — buses from Taichung HSR station reach Sun Moon Lake in approximately 75 minutes.

Practical Tips

• Best season: March–May and October–November avoid typhoon season and summer crowds.
• Getting there: Nantou Bus Route 6670 runs directly from Taichung HSR.
• Altitude: Pack a light layer for evenings; temperatures drop 5–6°C below Taipei levels year-round.
• Currency: NT$ accepted everywhere; ATMs available at Shuishe pier.