Shuishe is one of Sun Moon Lake’s most popular places to stay and a springboard to explore the local area by boat or bus – it is likely your first port of call if you are traveling to Sun Moon Lake by bus from Taichung or Taipei.
Overlooking the water, Shuishe is one of the three main stops on the Sun Moon Lake ferry boat shuttle and it is also a quick boat ride from here to Ita Thao, Sun Moon Lake’s other popular tourist resort and town.
From lakeside strolls to picturesque pavilions, waterfront cafes to cycle routes, there are lots of things to do in Shuishe plus most of the other attractions can be reached by boat.
Here is our guide and useful tips for staying in Shuishe in Sun Moon Lake in Taiwan.
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How to get to Shuishe in Sun Moon Lake / Bus station
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 Sun Moon Lake tour from Taipei with Klook >
Accommodation in Shuishe, Sun Moon Lake
Mid-Range to Luxury ($$)
Sun Moon Lake Apollo Resort Hotel
Highly rated brand-new hotel with lake views located a 3 minute walk away from Shuishe Pier. Check rates and availability on booking.com and agoda.com
Luxury ($$$)
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
Check out the best hotels in Sun Moon Lake via booking.com or agoda.com
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1. Go out on Sun Moon Lake
One of the best things about Shuishe is that it is the main pier to explore Sun Moon Lake itself – the ferry boat wharf is a 5 minute walk from where the main Sun Moon Lake buses from Taichung and Taipei drop passengers off – so you can be on the lake within minutes of your arrival!
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 and Sun Moon Lake’s most famous tea-egg stall, all of which you can read about here >
And in case you were wondering, yes, you can take your luggage / backpacks on the boat as we did from Shuishe to Ita Thao (although it was a bit cramped)!
Sun Moon Lake Boat Ferry fares cost $NT150 one way or $NT300 return / to do the complete circuit (all three piers) in one day – Sun Moon Lake boat prices correct as of summer 2024. Tickets can be bought at the counters by the main piers.
Book your Sun Moon Lake boat tickets in advance or combine the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway with a ferry ticket.
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2. 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.
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3. Hanbi Trail Boardwalk and loop
If you are only spending the day or one night in Shuishe, the best short lake walk is the Hanbi trail – it follows a path from 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. Nearby, the late president’s private dock and former guard post still remain below the pavilion.
Along the Hanbi Trail, there are several jetties and abandoned piers plus deep in the woods along the lakeside trail.
The ‘Apricot Platform’ is an outdoor auditorium that is said to represent the outdoor classes held by Confucious, who often taught his students surrounded by the sights and smells of an apricot forest.
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4. Hire a bike
If you have more time (and energy), the best way to navigate the entire circumference of Sun Moon 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.
Obviously allow extra time if you want to visit sites like Wenwu Temple or the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway.
One of the biggest bicycle rental companies in Sun Moon Lake is Giant Bicycle Rental, located on the first floor of Shuishe Shopping Center.
Sun Moon Lake bike rental usually starts from around NT$200 plus a refundable deposit.
Try this – Shuishe Sun Moon Lake bike hire with Klook >
5. Tiao – Lakeside Cafe
So it might not be traditional Taiwanese food but for a quick snack or some afternoon tea, Tiao overlooking Sun Moon Lake is a sun-trap with big bay windows looking out across the water.
Serving up set menus like chicken karaage or salmon rice, diners are possibly paying extra for the views (most dishes cost between NT$300 and $400) but this spot takes some beating. It is also cheaper than the hotel dining rooms that dominate the Shuishe lakefront.
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6. The Church of Christ & Plum Lotus Garden
A quick 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.
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7. Shuishe Waterfront Trail
Another free thing to do is the Shuishe Waterfront Trail which follows the shore of Sun Moon Lake in a northeasterly direction towards Wenwu Temple.
This is a popular cycling route and begins to the left-side of Shuishe Pier, and goes around the lake in a clockwise direction – we did about a one hour stretch of it walking but we personally preferred the Hanbi Trail.
There also aren’t that many amenities along the way other than the odd toilet block or occasional lakeside tea-room or restaurant.
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8. Starbucks Shuishe – Lakeside Balcony
OK, we know encouraging you to go to Starbucks whilst in a beautiful lakeside setting in Taiwan is sacrilege but hear us out…
There aren’t that many cafes in Shuishe with lakefront settings so this Sun Moon Lake Starbucks is actually not bad.
Its prices are the same as other Taiwan Starbucks (many places in Sun Moon Lake charge a premium) plus the outdoor terrace looks out directly over the lake, with room for about four tables.
And yep, special Sun Moon Lake Starbucks mugs are available for any Starbucks mugs collectors.
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9. Wenwu Temple (by ferry)
Sun Moon Lake’s best-known temple, Wenwu is a bus or ferry ride from Shuishe and one of the most stunning temples in all of Taiwan.
Opened in the late 1930s (and rebuilt much bigger in the 1960s) to replace two smaller shrines, Wenwu Temple is located in the Sun Moon Lake 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.
Sun Moon Lake Wenwu temple is free to visit (although donations are appreciated) – the temple is generally open from 8am to 8pm daily.
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10. Shuishe shopping district / Zhongshan Road shops & malls
Shuishe’s main shopping area consists of a small main street filled full of gift-shops, busy (slightly overpriced) restaurants and lots of hotels and accommodation.
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 Sun Moon Lake souvenirs, Shuishe’s shopping district will suit you fine for a few days.
There are also a couple of 7-Elevens along the main road, including one with a tourist / visitor information center inside.
There is also a small shopping center next to where the Sun Moon Lake bus from Taichung and Taipei drops off.
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Shuishe, Sun Moon Lake – Practical information and other things to know
- There is a Shuishe tourist / visitor information centre by the bus station – you can also find free toilets (which is ideal if you’ve just had a long bus journey here).
- There are three 7-Eleven convenience stores in and around Shuishe. If you have a special diet, you may want to bring your own supplies to Shuishe as there are no large supermarkets.
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