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Thursday, December 4, 2014

Taiwan 12-Day Vacation ; Day 8 - Sun Moon Lake

To check My Taiwan 12-Day Vacation Itinerary - See Link

Sun Moon Lake (日月潭) is a popular destination both for the locals and the tourists. We were here several years ago for a day trip from Taipei. We like the place and this time we decided to stay 2 nights which gave us sufficient time to see the beauty of the lake and its attractions.

Sun Moon Lake is the largest fresh-water reservoir in the center of Taiwan at an altitude of 750 meters. It is sometimes referred to as the pearl of Central Taiwan and is the largest natural lake in Taiwan nestled amongst beautiful green mountains. The Eastern part of the lake is round like the sun, while the Western part is shaped like a crescent moon therefore giving it's name "Sun Moon Lake"

There is an island in the middle of the lake called (Lalu) which is a sacred place for the Shao people. Visitors are not allowed to visit this island as only the Shao people can go there to worship their ancestors. However the cruise that is included in your tour does pass by it.

The beauty of Sun Moon Lake is found in the surrounding mountains. From the lake, tier upon tier of countless peaks can be seen rising up into the sky. The nearby mountains appear dark with vegetation. The mountains that echo farther and farther away appear less and less distinct until they fade into the sky.

Many visitors come to appreciate Sun Moon Lake's beauty. It is also a popular domestic tour spot, so the weekends are very crowded. On weekdays you can enjoy a peaceful drive along the shore and a boat ride on the lake, or view it from the ropeway to the Formosan Culture Village.

We started early and got ferry tickets from the Shuishe pier which is beside our hotel.

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The first destination was the Xuanguang Temple. Nothing special, just a Toaist temple and Pagoda up on a little hill.

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Next, we quickly took the next ferry and headed for the Cable Car station to take the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway. We reached there early enough and the crowds were not there yet.

Below are some images of our experience on the cable car ride. We enjoyed it. It was certainly a wonderful experience. I highly recommend it.

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To check My Taiwan 12-Day Vacation Itinerary - See Link