Sun Moon Lake ‘shines’ as one of Taiwan’s top tourist regions, with a wide array of natural and man-made attractions.
Whilst it can get busy, the sight of sunset over Sun Moon Lake or a trip to the waterside temples usually makes up for the crowds and it is an easy day trip from Taichung.
A great place to cycle, get out on the water or enjoy long lakeside walks, Sun Moon Lake has many things to do from cable cars to cultural villages, tranquil temples to Taiwanese tea-tasting.
Sun Moon Lake has numerous hotels, restaurants and shops with many tourists and travellers basing themselves in either Ita Thao or Shuishe, both of which overlook the lake.
Featuring frogs, forests and some local foods to try, here is our ultimate guide to Sun Moon Lake in Taiwan. We last visited Sun Moon Lake in March 2026 staying at the Hu Yue Lakeview Hotel.
You might also like our 2 day Sun Moon Lake itinerary >
This article was originally published on 19 September 2024.
Taiwan checklist
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How to get to Sun Moon Lake
We have written an extensive guide on how you can reach Sun Moon Lake from Taipei, Taichung and Alishan, check it out here >
If you are coming on the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle from Taichung then you will be dropped off at the Shuishe Visitor Center.
Alternatively, try this one day tour from Taipei with Klook >
Sun Moon Lake Accommodation
Mid-Range ($$)
Hu Yue Lakeview Hotel
On our latest 2026 trip to Sun Moon Lake, we spent 3 nights here in an amazing 355 ft ² lake view room.
The room itself was clean and comfortable and the balcony was an excellent size. The bathroom was shiny and modern with big glass windows (but you can lower the blinds for privacy). The bed was large, and the TV had the Netflix app inbuilt so we could watch films at night.
Breakfast is served on the top floor (8th floor) offering a small buffet and gorgeous morning views. The hotel is conveniently located near to Ita Thao Pier for the ferry and there are many convenience stores, street food stalls and restaurants on your doorstep.
Check rates and availability on booking.com and agoda.com (use the code TAIWANDERERS for a discount)
Mid-Range ($$)
H& Sun Moon Lake Shui Yang
We stayed at this friendly guesthouse which is just a few minutes walk from the pier and all the restaurants.
Breakfast was included and you can enjoy eating it on their small deck overlooking the lake. They also provide a small tea tasting tray when you first arrive.
Check rates and availability on booking.com and agoda.com
Luxury ($$$)
The Richforest Sun Moon Lake
Popular hotel with lake views. Facilities include an indoor pool, sauna, restaurant, game/chess room and free bike rental. Some rooms have balconies with lake views. Check rates and availability on booking.com and agoda.com
Luxury ($$$)
Fuli Hot Spring Resort
Popular hotel with mountain views. Facilities include an outdoor pool, hot tubs, spa, private hot spring bathhouses, karaoke, onsite restaurants and bar. Check rates and availability on booking.com and agoda.com
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Ita Thao vs Shuishe – which is better?
Before we stayed in Sun Moon Lake, we did a lot of research into which was the best place to stay – as we were reliant on public transport, we narrowed it down to Shuishe vs Ita Thao.
Based on our experiences, we would recommend staying in Ita Thao over Shuishe if you plan to stay more than one night.
Ita Thao has more attractions on its doorstep (like the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway, Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village plus various bike, paddleboard and pedalo hire) plus a bigger range of shops and food.
We found Ita Thao a bit more relaxing than Shuishe and it also had a little more night-life, including a small street food market. It is also an easy, inexpensive boat ride across the lake from Shuishe to Ita Thao (there is just one stop between them – Xuanguang).
That said, if you are only staying one night or want to get an early bus back in the morning to Taipei or Taichung, Shuishe is also perfectly fine with lots more lakefront hotels – we thought the accommodation at Shuishe also seemed a bit more expensive than Ita Thao.
Sun Moon Lake – things to do
1. Sun Moon Lake Ropeway
A short walk from the main pier and one of the best things to do in Ita Thao, the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway is a cable car that provides some of the best aerial views of the lake. It also delivers you right to the front door of the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village (more on this later).
The cable car takes under 10 minutes to get to the top and has stunning panoramic views, especially on bright sunny days as the lake glistens in the sunlight – you can even pay a little extra to get glass bottom cable-cars (if you dare).
When we visited in spring 2024, we went just after it opened hoping to avoid queues but we still had to wait about 20 minutes to go-up. It is worth it though just for the views along the way, even if you don’t want to visit the Aboriginal Village at the top.
A return ticket on the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway departing from Ita thao costs NT$380 (around £9 or $12 USD).
The ropeway is open from 10.30am to 4pm on weekdays and 10am to 4.30pm on weekends.
Check out this Sun Moon Lake Ropeway and Transport combo ticket >
You might like – things to do in Taichung >
2. Wenwu Temple
Sun Moon Lake’s best-known landmarks, Wenwu Temple is nothing short of stunning, accessible by bus (or car) from either Shuishe or Ita Thao.
Opened in the late 1930s (and rebuilt much bigger in the 1960s) to replace two smaller shrines, Wenwu Temple is located in the hills with stunning views looking out over the water, as well as several halls and shrines to explore, and its own miniature waterfall.
As you first enter, you’ll see huge red guardian lions protecting the temple and then make your way up the steps to visit the three main halls.
The gardens at the top of the site are also a nice place to stroll around with several benches looking out over Sun Moon Lake.
Wenwu temple is free to visit (although donations are appreciated) – the temple is generally open from 8am to 8pm daily.
3. Go out on Sun Moon Lake
Getting out on Sun Moon Lake doesn’t have to be expensive with boat fares starting from just NT$150 per person one way or NT$300 for a round trip (correct as of summer 2026). However, you can buy heavily discounted Sun Moon Lake boat tickets (40% off) in advance from Klook >
The Sun Moon Lake ferry boat departs regularly and has three main pick up and drop off points – Shuishe, Ita Thao and Xuanguang – the latter is home to Xuanguang Temple & Ci-En Pagoda, two of the attractions on this list.
And in case you were wondering, yes, you can take your luggage / backpacks on the boat from Shuishe to Ita Thao, if you are staying in Ita Thao – we did this very route with our backpacks (and didn’t get wet once)!
Book your boat tickets in advance here or combine the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway with a ferry ticket here.
4. Ci-En Pagoda
Built in 1971 at the request of Chiang Kai-shek (the former President of the Republic of China) to commemorate his mother, Ci-En Pagoda is a 12 storey octagonal tower with views of Sun Moon Lake and Lalu Island.
We climbed to the top most recently in March 2026 on a sunny clear day and honestly, it is the BEST place for panoramic views of the lake – although the circular viewing platform at the top can get quite busy with little room to pass each other.
The hike to the top is quite steep (especially if you are starting from Xuanguang wharf) but well worth it for the views and scenic surroundings.
What is great is that the Ci-En Pagoda has two sets of intertwining staircases (one up, one down) so you never have to worry about ‘close-calls’ passing on the steps.
Ci-En Pagoda admission is free of charge – stock up on soft drinks or water as the stall there is not always open. Toilets are also available by the car park.
5. Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village
Part cultural center, part theme park, you’ll find the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village at the top of the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway (or it can be accessed by car).
You can take a step back in time to see Taiwan’s main Aboriginal and indigenous groups, their ‘homes’ and traditional crafts and cultural activities like cooking and tribal dances.
The site also has over 25 different rides and various themed zones, plus Taiwan’s largest European style gardens.
Book your discounted Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village ticket with Klook >
6. Hanbi Trail Boardwalk & loop
If you are only spending the day in Sun Moon Lake, the best short lake walk near town is the Hanbi trail that follows a path from the right of Shuishe Pier and does a small loop of a small peninsula that juts out into Sun Moon Lake.
The full loop of this small stretch of the Hanbi Trail takes about 90 mins and is fairly flat, with several viewpoints along the way including Yule Pavilion and the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Pavilion.
The latter was built at the site of the former president’s favorite Sun Moon Lake view.
You might like – Things to do in Shuishe, Sun Moon Lake >
7. Xuanguang Temple & Songbailun Natural Park
If you are taking the Sun Moon Lake shuttle boat, the stop before arriving in Ita Thao is the Xuanguang Wharf (or you could take the bus too from Ita Thao/Shuishe).
Here, Xuanguang Temple dates back to the 1950s and like Wenwu Temple, has stunning views looking out over the lake (we also found it MUCH quieter than Wenwu).
The shrine is dedicated to the Buddhist monk Xuanzang and his teachings – there is also a really nice viewing point in the gardens where families and locals seem to congregate and look out to the lake.
The shop has many religious trinkets and blessings to buy plus ice-cream and soft-drinks – very appreciated on a hot day! It has a free souvenir stamp too.
As we took the boat here, the walk up to Xuanguang Temple from the pier up the hill through Songbailun Natural Park is steep but stunning (be sure to pack water).
8. Xiangshan Visitor Center 向山行政暨遊客中心
A scenic Sun Moon Lake stop, Xiangshan Visitor Center is a popular pitstop for cyclists traversing the lake and families with cars.
Here you can go to the top of the visitor center to check out the rooftop observation deck looking out over the lake, or watch the ‘multimedia show’ (shudder!) which plays on loop regularly in the theater here.
Tourists also flock here for the food and drink outlets in the visitor center overlooking the lake – the most famous of which is Matcha Prince, a dedicant dessert shop known for its matcha infused sweet treats.
We paid NT$180 for the iconic Matcha Prince ice cream with jelly, matcha cream topping and matcha nama choc. One thing we did notice – the matcha drinks on the menu look / sound very Instagrammable but they are actually served in sealed plastic containers so whilst they may taste nice, they look kind of boring!
Also keep an eye out for the colorful manhole cover as you enter Xiangshan Visitor Center.
9. HOHOCHA tea – Taiwan Sun Moon Lake Black Tea Factory 喝喝茶
A short bus ride from Shuishe, hop off at HOHOCHA (“to drink tea”), a Sun Moon Lake Black Tea factory famed for its flavorful Ruby Tea – packed with tea products, tasting opps and plenty of tourists, this is a nice way to spend a couple of hours.
Created over 30 years by the Wang family, HOHOCHA is centered around a massive 3 storey tea research center which has several gift shops, museum exhibits about the history of tea-making in the region plus a beautiful tea room on the top floor (extra fees apply).
We visited HOHOCHA in Spring 2026 and admission was NT$80 which included a NT$50 discount in the cafe.
We had a lovely tea ice-cream (NT$100) (mango oolong) plus enjoyed a black tea cream puff with a coffee (we know coffee is sacrilege at a tea factory but it is what we wanted!
Onsite, there are lots of beautifully designed shops and ways to part you with your cash including a cosmetics shop – and don’t forget to get your free souvenir ink stamps at the start.
You might like – Our guide to Taiwan souvenir ink stamps >
10. Yuchi Village / Miss Wu 覓食屋私房料理
On our 2026 trip to Sun Moon Lake, we finally made it to Yuchi Village, primarily to visit the HOHOCHA tea factory but to also explore the local area.
A small town with tea farms, plus all the usual Taiwan chain shops, supermarkets like PX Mart and many local restaurants, it is a pleasant place to walk around, especially the laneways and alleys away from the main roads.
We also came here to at Miss Wu (map), a well reviewed Korean restaurant with a Taiwanese twist.
We find the food options in Sun Moon Lake are not always the best, and when we saw its 4.8 rating on Google, we just had to pay a visit – when we got there one weekday lunch, Miss Wu’s was already packed out.
We went for a Taiwanese tea infused beef bibimbap (NT$200), a seafood pancake (NT$200) and Korean kimchi stew with beef (NT$240) plus all the free black tea you can drink – it was a nice change from all the street-food we usually eat in Ita Thao.
11. Grandma’s (Ah Ma) Tea Egg
Xuanguang Wharf is also home to possibly Sun Moon Lake’s most famous food stall, Grandma’s Mushroom tea eggs.
According to the captain on our boat shuttle, they sell thousands of these herbal eggs every day which are soaked in tea and other rejuvenating ingredients.
We grabbed one of Grandma’s Tea eggs (NTD$25) on the way back down from our hike to Xuanzang Temple (along with some much needed cold drinks and ice cream).
The Taiwanese tea-egg was delicious and not too overpowering in taste – we knew they’d be good as all of the workmen resurfacing the jetty on our visit were eating one as we arrived! Always a good sign.
P.S. If you are reading this after you’ve already been to Xuanguang Wharf or Grandma’s was closed, you can also get Taiwan tea eggs in most Taiwanese convenience stores.
You might like – 12 things to do in Ita Thao, Sun Moon Lake >
12. Yidashao Lakeside Trail & Water Frog Head Trail
One of the best walks to do in Ita Thao is to head northeast from the town along the lakeside boardwalk and past the Ropeway and carry on through the forests via the Yidashao Lakeside Trail.
This is a relatively easy and relaxed stroll / hike along wooden boardwalks and paved paths, popular with cyclists and local families (many of whom stay at the campsite next to the Ropeway, overlooking the lake).
Recently the Ita Thao Waterfront Bicycle Path has also been established, making it easy to cycle around the entire lake.
The path takes in stunning views of the lake and along the way, you’ll see fishing huts floating in the water, and the occasional local reeling in fish with stove log fires burning.
As well as a nice way to escape the tourist crowds and get-up close with nature, this is the main way to walk from Ita thao to see our next thing to do in Ita Thao, the famous Nine Frogs Stack…
You might like – things to do in Tainan >
13. Nine Frogs Stack
Hop to it! Nine Frogs Stack is a quirky tourist attraction in Sun Moon Lake, an artistic way to see what the lake water levels are like – if you see beyond the first seven frogs, generally that means the lake water level is very low.
An iconic landmark walkable from Ita Thao, a new viewing platform has been installed recently (the Shuiwatou Platform) so that visitors to Sun Moon Lake can get up closer to the frogs and take pictures and froggy selfies.
14. Hire bikes, boats or paddle boards in Sun Moon Lake
You’re spoilt for choice when trying to decide how to get around the lake or even on it – choose from bike hire and paddleboards (available in both Ita Thao or Shuishe) or hire a swan pedalo.
Sun Moon Lake paddleboard hire usually costs around NT$690 per 1 hour session – check out Paddleboard Ita thao rates on Klook here >
If you have more time (and energy), the best way to navigate the entire circumference of the lake is to hire a bike.
New paths and cycle paths have been added in recent years meaning it is possible to cycle the full perimeter of the lake in a morning or afternoon.
One of the biggest bicycle rental companies in Sun Moon Lake is Giant Bicycle Rental, located on the first floor of Shuishe Shopping Center – bike rental usually starts from around NT$200 plus a refundable deposit.
Check out this Shuishe Sun Moon Lake bike hire with Klook >
15. Ita Thao Market
Ita Thao is a good place to base yourself if you are staying in Sun Moon Lake for several days (we’d recommend at least one night so you can do the various temples, walks and activities spread around the lake).
We personally found the food options at Ita Thao a little bit limited, especially if you are on a tight budget.
A lot of the restaurants in Ita Thao are quite expensive to the big cities, because let’s be honest, you are kind of a captive market if staying in Ita Thao overnight.
The Ita Thao street food market consists of around 20+ food kiosks, stalls and booths located around the main shopping street that serve Taiwanese snacks and street food until early evening (on our last visit, most had closed by 8pm).
Stalls sell generally fast food dishes like scallion pancakes, black tea dried tofu, hamburgers etc and eating from the food stalls was a lot cheaper than the Ita Thao restaurants. A few vegan and vegetarian dishes are also available.
Some of the Ita Thao street food market stalls include:
- Beniazuma (Japanese sweet potatoes)
- Jumbo ice-creams
- Vegetarian black tea spiced dried tofu and milk tea
- Cuttlefish balls
- Chinese egg burger
- Shrimp rolls
- Pressed tofu
- Black tea dried tofu
- Roasted oyster mushrooms
- Wild boar sausage
- Scallion pancakes
- Fried cabbage buns
- Woodfired pizza (we think this is a new stall as we saw it pop up near the Wyndham hotel on our 2026 trip)
16. The Church of Christ & Plum Lotus Garden
A brief mention of the Sun Moon Lake’s The Church of Christ – it has a beautiful garden overlooking the lake which is used for wedding ceremonies and is pretty photo spot
The church was built in 1971 so the former president Chiang Kai-Sek and his wife Madam Chiang could worship during their regular vacations in Sun Moon Lake.
With Roman style columns out front, it is quite different in style to most of the other buildings in Sun Moon Lake.
17. Sun Moon Lakeshopping districts & restaurants
Both Ita Thao and Shuishe have shopping streets that usually consist of gift shops (some selling traditional Aboriginal crafts), restaurants (often overpriced), a few food stalls and also convenience stores.
Shuishe has three Taiwan 7-Eleven stores whilst Ita Thao has two FamilyMart stores and two 7-Eleven stores.
Obviously you don’t come to Sun Moon Lake for shopping so this isn’t a major problem but if you need any essentials or souvenirs, the lakeside shopping district will suit you fine for a few days.
If you have a special diet, you may want to bring your own supplies as there are no large supermarkets – there is a PX Mart supermarket in nearby Yuchi Town.
If you’re someone who prefers chains and known coffee shops etc, Shuishe has a Starbucks coffee shop with an amazing balcony overlooking the lake itself – it also stocks special Taiwan Starbucks Sun Moon Lake mugs.
We asked in our TTT Facebook group about local recommendations and several members recommended the Shao Chinese Restaurant in Wyndham Sun Moon Lake resort. Their Cantonese cuisine was nice, served with lots of Taiwanese tea and actually quite well priced for Sun Moon Lake – so we ate here twice!
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Sun Moon Lake – Our final thing to do
18. Meihe Park
For the best views of Sun Moon Lake in Shuishe, head up the hill to Meihe Park (it is a short five minute walk from the main Shuishe shopping district).
Amazingly, much of this area used to be a former Taiwanese military police station but it was razed to the ground in the 1970s.
Free to visit, Meihe Park is a great place to watch all the boats bob up and down on the lake, or the passenger ferries depart from Shuishe Pier; there are a few trails and places to sit plus there are also several cafes and kiosks to enjoy food with some panoramic views.
Sun Moon Lake – Practical information & other things to know
- There are Sun Moon Lake Tourist Visitor Information centers in both Ita Thao (by the pier) plus by the bus station in Shuishe. Free public toilets are available at both sites.
- ATMs are available at the convenience stores in Sun Moon Lake but best to also bring some cash as well, in case your nearest one is out of order.
- Transportation to and from Sun Moon Lake can be incredibly busy and often full in peak season – so book in advance and refer back to our how to get to Sun Moon Lake guide >
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