Taiwan 3rd Day : Sun Moon Lake

 

Sun Moon Lake in Yuchi, Nantou is the largest body of water in Taiwan. Back in the 1930s when Taiwan was a colony of Japan, the Japanese erected a dam on one of the lakes to generate hydroelectric power. The operation, over time, raised the water level to create Sun Moon Lake in its current form: round like the sun at its eastern end and curved like the crescent moon at its western end.

I tried to look for this shape at the top of the Ropeway or at Xuanzhang but was not able to visualize it.

We did not take a packaged tour this time, and decided to take a DIY itinerary. From our hotel in Taichung, we walked to Gancheng station which is like 5mins away. We were there too early and the staff informed us we will be assisted at 7:05 AM. So we checked for a nearby coffee shop and saw Starbucks but it won't open until 11AM. At 7:05 AM, SML bus is already at the front. Bus departed at 7:20 AM in Gancheng Station. We had our reservations as it's a holiday week and worried on not being able to get on the schedule we wanted. Surprisingly, there was not much of passengers at that time.

We just paid via Easy card and Tpass. 

We arrived at Shuishe at 9:05 AM, and because we were so eager to find a restroom we missed the Shuishe Visitor's Center beside 711. We were supposed to buy 1 way boat ticket there. Cost is about 150 NTD and roundtrip is 300 NTD. We don't have plans of coming via boat again so we only took the one way ticket. We were already at the boat and was suprised to have been asked for a ticket, we were given tickets though after paying. Good thing they have available tickets at the boat.

Lalu Island from the boat

Ita Thao from the boat

Ita Thao

Left Shuishe at 9:30 AM and arrived at Ita Thao Pier by 10AM.

passenger boat from Shuishe.
Wish Boracay had this floating platform like this so pulling your luggage won't be an issue.

We just walked from the Ita Thao Pier to the Sun Moon lake Ropeway. It was just pretty easy as there was a boardwalk that you can take. It took us 30mins , with the walking, stopping and picture taking to the Ropeway Station.

Sun Moon Lake Ropeway

The whole ropeway experience took about an hour as well. PLease note that you cannot literally sit and do a roundtrip. After going up, you need to alight the cable car and line up again to the queue going down. We  purchased our tickets via Klook.

Sun Moon Lake Ropeway, see the boardwalk along the shore.
The Pier can be seen from the picture as well.

view after the ascent

Back at the market, at 11:30 AM
strolled here for lunch and souvenirs

We finished at 1:10 PM but the next bust for Xuanzhang is at 1:45PM. We took an uber instead as not to waste time waiting. Plan your itinerary well so you can get to the bus timely. The Yidashao bus stop is just after the Wyndham Hotel. You just go straight up in the picture above, opposite the direction of the lake.

Xuanzhang Temple

Arrived at the temple at 1:30 PM. It was peaceful here, and there's a great view that awaits you.

view from the temple
There are tables here with roof, you can do a mini picnic here, no alcoholic beverage though as this is a temple.

Cien Pagoda

By 2pm, we then walked to the Cien Pagoda by the road.We were supposed to go up the Cien Pagoda , but due to emergency we head down to Wenwu Temple. Here are some shots taken along the way.

from here is 700m up to the Pagoda

Pagoda from afar

No bus stop at the Cien Pagoda, you have to go down to the highway, if you need to take the bus. Again, we took Uber here going to the next stop. 

Wenwu Temple

We arrived at Wenwu at 3:20 PM. This is the prettiest of the temple we've been in SunMoon Lake. 

prenup shoot

some flowers at the top of the temple

stairs leading down to the bikelane

bikelane along the lake

Took us 40mins to completely explore the area (finished 4pm), then again we missed checking the Bus schedule to Shuishe Pier. Next Bus is scheduled at 4:54 PM and our schedule for Taichung is at 4:40 PM.  We waited 20mins for our Uber ride only be cancelled. So we waited for another ride. We missed the bus by 1min. Lined up to the queue for the 5:10 PM schedule instead. Here's the thing, this schedule takes longer as it passes and stops inside Puli. Our trip took longer, arrived in Taichung after 2 hours.