Blog Feed

History of Leofoo Village:

Leofoo Village Theme Park, located in Guanxi Township, Hsinchu County, Taiwan, is one of Taiwan’s largest and most famous theme parks. Originally opened in 1979 as just a safari park, it was expanded into a full theme park in 1994 with the launch of its first themed area, the “Wild West.” Today, the park features six themed zones: Central Magic Fountain, Wild West, South Pacific, Arabian Palace, African Tribe (Safari Park), and Leofoo Water Park. Over the decades, the park introduced numerous attractions such as the free-fall “Screaming Condor,” the “Big Canyon Rapids,” and Taiwan’s only white tiger. The African Tribe zone is Taiwan’s only open-range safari, housing around a thousand animals across various sections for herbivores, carnivores, monkeys, and petting interactions. The park also faced several tragic accidents and incidents, including the 2023 baboon escape that drew nationwide attention. In recent years, Leofoo has celebrated milestones like its 45th anniversary in 2024 with large-scale events and free-entry promotions, while continuing to expand its facilities and consider new projects such as hot spring installations to allow year-round operation.

Price:

1400 TWD per person. You can get tickets for an amazing discount on Klook here.

Parking: 200 NT per day for cars
100 NT per day for scooters

Website:

https://www.leofoovillage.com.tw

When to visit:

It is best to visit from April to November when the weather is warm and less windy. Leofoo Waterpark is only open from June to September.
There is a constant, cold northeasterly wind from December to March, especially along the coast. However, the winter in general is drier.

Where to stay:

In Hsinchu, I have stayed at and recommend the Golden Motel, a high-quality motel near Green Grass Lake (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, Expedia here, or Trip.com here), and CD Motel, another high-quality motel in downtown Hsinchu (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, or Trip.com here). Unfortunately, I cannot recommend any further hotels that I have stayed at in Hsinchu because usually we stay at my wife’s uncle’s house. 
You can find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.

How to get to Leofoo Village?

By Scooter: From central Hsinchu, take provincial highway 1 north and turn west on Highway 118 in Guanxi. Then take Guangming Road up the mountain. There is paid parking at the theme park. Looking for scooter rental in Hsinchu? You can search Klook here or KKday here to look for options.
You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
By Car: Take National Freeway 3 to the Guanxi Exit. Then head up Guangming Road until you see the entrance to the park. There is paid parking at the theme park. If you are looking for car rentals in Hsinchu, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or KKDay here. 
You can also check out our car rental guide here. 
By Bus/Taxi:  From Hsinchu Station, take bus 5619 to Guanxi Old Street. The old street is on the left of the main highway. 
You can book tickets to travel to Hsinchu via inter-city bus on Klook here. 
You can book tickets to Hsinchu via high-speed rail (HSR)  on Klook here or KKDay here. 
Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here.
By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan’s landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can search on KKday here and Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. 

Tours: 

You can find more tours and activities in Hsinchu such as You can find more tours and activities in Hsinchu such as river tracing, wild hot springs, white water kayaking, backpack rafting, Little Ding Dong Theme Park, Leofoo Village Theme Park, Window on China Theme Park, glamping, camping, stone spa, horse riding, Yukids Island, Tom and Bei Bei Parent-Child Paradise, bee keeping experience, cycling, dried persimmons experience, Jump Wave Trampoline Park and more on Klook here or KKday here. 

Map:

Check out the map above.

Drone Footage:

Check out our drone footage of Leofoo Village above.
Leofoo Village in Hsinchu, Taiwan: Taiwan’s largest theme park. #六福村

Check out a full map of the Theme Park above.
The main areas in the park are as follows:

Main Rides and Attractions:

Restaurants and Shops:

Arabian Kingdom 阿拉伯皇宮:

African Safari 非洲部落:

Leofoo Waterpark 六福水樂園:

South Pacific 南太平洋:

The Wild West 美國大西部:

Our Journey:

We have only been to Leofoo Village once during the fall when the water park was closed. I think just the zoo would be enough to spend a whole day. We were running at the end to see everything. I would recommend going on a weekday when there are fewer people and the lines are shorter. We also got a great half-price deal on tickets from Klook. It definitely felt more like Disneyland than any other theme park in Taiwan.

Leofoo Waterpark 六福水樂園

Because we visited in October, the Water Park was already closed. It only opens from June to September. But you can see some drone photos of the area here.

The water slides here are huge, and there are lots of rides. It is definitely the best water park I have ever seen in Taiwan.

View of Leofoo Village with the Arabian Palace in the background.

Aerial View of the South Pacific part of the theme park, the main rides being the Volcano run, which is like Splash Mountain, and the pirate ship.

Another full-on drone view of the park, including the main entrance.

There is plenty of parking here, but it is kind of expensive at 200 NT per day. You might think they make more money from the parking lot than from the park.

Main entrance to the park.

Leofoo Waterpark entrance, which was closed at the time.

View of the ticket prices before they were increased. Now tickets are 1400 TWD per person. But, you can get tickets for an amazing discount on Klook here. We got our tickets through Klook at half price.

Halloween decoration that glows at night (scroll to the end of the blog to see it).

African Safari 非洲部落

We decided to check out the African Safari first. In addition to an outdoor zoo, there is also a safari train and safari bus.

Giant tusks welcome you into the zoo.

At the entrance, you can find the Desert Storm roller coaster.

There are a few orangutans right at the entrance here.

Steam Train Safari (Nairobi Express）

Here you can take a steam train safari, which takes a loop around Safari land.

On a busy day, the line may be long, but you can wait in a covered area.

Some people dressed up for Halloween got half off I think.

Some Buffalo.

Arabian Castle in the background.

Steam Train rolling in.

Closeup view of the steam train.

People love the steam train.

Once on the train, we first saw hippos.

Another view of the hippos.

Water buffalo.

Hippo’s rear end.

Another view of the hippo.

Rhinos. The park has 23 Black Rhinos, which have expanded from their original 8 in 1979. Rhinos do surprisingly well in Taiwan’s climate, I guess.

More Rhinos.

Rhinos and a water buffalo coexisting peacefully I guess.

More Rhinos.

A Rhino lays down in the mud.

American Bison.

More buffalo.

And the Nairobi Express marches onward.

Ostriches.

Wild boar.

Peacock.

Jurassic Park vehicle.

Giraffe.

Camels and goats peacefully coexisting.

View of the Safari Bus, which we will show later.

Monkey Brings Good Luck Ride

We also went on the Monkey Brings Good Luck ride, which goes around the outdoor zoo.

Lemurs.

We also saw this Gibbon swing around the trees.

Ferocious Beast Area Bus Safari

Next, we took the bus safari. My wife told me that in the olden days, when the park just started, they let you drive your own car through the safari with lions and tigers. It must have been a thrilling experience.

This was the most jurassic-park like experience I have ever had.

First we came across this white tiger. It may have been the first white tiget imported into Taiwan, but there are other ones at the Kaohsiung Zoo.

Another view of the Siberian Tiger.

Benghal tiger.

Two male lions taking a nap.

Female lion.

Female lion as she walks off.

Lion family.

Then we went back to see the gibbon show. This monkey was howling as he swung.

Storks.

Baboons.

More baboons.

Hamadryas Baboon.

Goat and sheep feeding area.

Desert Storm Roller Coaster

Next we came full circle back to the Desert Storm roller coaster. My kids rode on this multiple times.

Merry-go-round.

Another view of the merry-go-round.

Another view of the Desert Storm roller coaster.

Arabian Kingdom 阿拉伯皇宮

Next, we made our way to the Arabian Kingdom.

View of the gates to the Arabian Kingdom.

Here you can find some shops and restaruants.

There are also some games here.

And there is a giant merry-go-round.

View inside the main gate.

View of the street inside.

View of the main Arabian castle.

Happy and Honey’s Adventure.

Next, we checked out Happy and Honey’s adventure, which is a play or skit that changes every once in a while.

They had quite a few people from Eastern Europe, I think, here performing.

Air yoga performance.

The Wheel of Wind and Fire 風火輪

The wheel of wind and fire is one of the most intense roller coasters I have been on in Taiwan. Make sure you empty your pockets, or else you could kill someone. They swing you around on the ring and stop midway so your are just hanging upside down in the air.

This is one of the most popular and thrilling rides in the park.

South Pacific 南太平洋

South Pacific is a more water themed place than the other parts of the park. Here you can find a volcano-themed splash mountain.

Map of the area.

The Great Pirate Ride

The Great Pirate is a huge pirate ride that swings back and forth. It is bigger than the one at Taipei Children’s Amusement Park.

View of the boat swinging back.

View of the boat swinging forward. My son just about fainted on this ride. The G-forces are real.

Birdflight Ride

Birdflight, which is another merry-go-round type ride.

Another view of Bridflight.

Volcano Adventure – Taiwan’s Splash Mountain

Next up is the volcano adventure ride which is similar to splash mountain in Disneyland.

Here, you will get wet, so come prepared.

View up to the ride with some fake dinosaurs.

Another very wet splash.

Bring your own rain gear, or buy theirs for 680 NT.

You cannot go barefoot or take luggage.

Lining up for the ride.

After the ride, you can dry out in these pods.

Wild West 美國大西部

Next, we moved on to the wild west. See a map of it above.

Screaming Condor

Luckily, the screaming condor was closed for maintenance when we visited, because it looks scary.

Grand Canyon Rapid Rafting

One of the funnest rides here is the rafting ride.

You can fit a lot of people on these rides, and chances are someone will get wet.

The ride is not too scary or bouncy, but there is water so come prepared.

View getting onto the rapids.

Another view of the rapids.

Coming back up after the rapid ride was over.

The wild west has a lot of shops. They built an entire western town here.

Another view of the American Wild West town.

Tombstone Parade

Every year, they have a Halloween-themed party and parade at the Wild West area. Stay late to see the parade.

Large fake skeleton and tombstones.

The Drunken Wine Barrel

Here there is another spinning ride.

More Haloween decor.

More Haloween designs.

Most rides in the park close at either 4:30 or 5:00, so it is best to get here early.

Wild West Train

There is another fun little roller coaster in here called the wild west train.

View of the train from the outside.

People as they were finishing their run.

We rode this train quite a few times.

Haloween Parade

If you come in October, you should be able to see their haloween parade and displays, which are best seen at night.

People lined the streets to see the parade.

Another view of the parade.

Finally, the zombie parade started.

Another view of the parade.

Ghost eyes in the trees.

Evil baboon.

That concludes our trip. Thanks for reading!

Don’t forget, you can get tickets to Leofoo Village for an amazing discount on Klook here.

Check out our guide to Hsinchu here, or our guide to Taoyuan here for nearby sights.

You can also check out our full guide to Taiwan here.

  • Lalu Island 拉魯島: Sun Moon Lake’s Sacred Island

    Lalu Island on Sun Moon Lake is a sacred island to the indigenous people here, who believe that a deer showed their ancestors the way to the lake. Before a dam was built, the island was larger and shaped like a crescent moon. Even though tourists can no longer visit the island, it is one of the most popular attractions at Sun Moon Lake that you can see up close via ferry boat.

    🛥️ Planning your trip to Sun Moon Lake? ⛰️

    Here are some top travel tips for you:

    Background:

    Sun Moon Lake (aka Zintun in the local Thao language) is the largest natural lake in Taiwan and the home of the aboriginal Thao tribe. According to legend, a white deer led the tribe to the lake and is now trapped in a marble stone on Lalu Island, which is sacred ground to them.
    Sun Moon Lake used to be separated by Lalu Island into two main bodies of water, Sun Lake and Moon Lake. These lakes were still technically one lake, but later, with the damming of the lake and raising the water level, the land on Lalu Island, which separated them, was mostly submerged. The reason why these lakes were so named is that one lake was murky and the other was clear. Also, one lake was more round like the sun, and the other lake was curved like the moon.

    The first hydroelectric plant was built on the lake in 1919 by the Japanese, and it was later taken over by the ROC government. The hydroelectric power is part of a system of hydropower plants running from Wushe to Sun Moon Lake down to Shuili Township and includes at least 8 plants.
    Sun Moon Lake Scenic Area was created in 2000. The lake attracts visitors from around the world year-round for its beauty and surrounding sights, and is also known for the annual Sun Moon Lake Swimming Carnival, which thousands of people attend each year.

    Lalu Island (拉魯島), located at the center of Sun Moon Lake in Nantou County, Taiwan, is a sacred site for the Thao people (邵族), believed to be the dwelling place of their highest ancestral spirit. The name Lalu means “sacred mountain of the heart.” Historically, it was known by several names such as Zhuyu (珠嶼), Zhuzai Mountain (珠仔山), and Floating Island (浮嶼) during the Qing Dynasty, and Tamashima (玉島) or Water Island (水中島) during Japanese rule. After World War II, it was renamed Guanghua Island (光華島) before its indigenous name Lalu (拉魯) was restored. Once home to temples and Taiwan’s first shrine dedicated to Yue Lao (月下老人, the God of Marriage), the island became an important tourist attraction until it was destroyed in the 1999 921 earthquake (九二一大地震). It was later declared an indigenous sacred area and closed to the public. A restoration project in 2008 expanded and raised the island after erosion and earthquakes had reduced its size, though some believe its natural state should have been left unchanged.

    Price:

    Lalu Island is closed to visitors.
    Scenic Area Entrance: Free
    Parking: Around 100 NT per day for cars
    Ferry Ride (starting at Shuitou Pier): 300 NT per person. You can book tickets for a discount on Klook here.
    Paddle Boat Ride: 300 NT per person
    Gondola Ride (Ropeway): 500 NT per person
    Formosan Aboriginal Cultural Village: 980 NT per person. You can book tickets for a discount on Klook here.

    Hours:

    Lalu Island is closed to visitors.
    Scenic Area: 24/7
    Parking: 24/7
    Boat Ride: roughly 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM every day
    Gondola Ride: 10:30 AM – 4:00 PM every day
    Formosan Aboriginal Cultural Village: 9:30 AM- 5 PM every day

    Tours:

    There are many tours and activities available at Sun Moon Lake such as SUP / standup Paddleboarding, Electric Boating, Canoeing, and Paddle Boarding, Water bike experience, Ebike Rental, and Kayaking
    You can find more tours of Nantou on Klook here or KKday here.

    Cherry Blossom Season:

    Cherry Blossoms can be seen in the park from February to late March. Check out our full guide to Cherry Blossom Season in Taiwan here. 

    Firefly Season

    Firefly season at Sun Moon Lake is from May to June. Check out our firefly season guide here.

    Where to Stay:

    We have stayed at and recommend Kirin Villa (you can book on Agoda here or Booking.com here), a mountain resort in Puli near Sun Moon Lake.
    Looking for a hotel? Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands.

    How to get there:

    Bus: There are buses (Ubus/Kbus/etc) that leave all day from Taichung Station. You can book tickets to travel to Nantou via inter-city bus on Klook here.
    You can book tickets to Taichung via high-speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here, or book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here, then switch to a bus to Nantou.
    By Car/Scooter: Take National Highway 6 from Taichung up to Puli, and then follow the signs on Highway 21 down to Sun Moon Lake. You can also take a car/scooter up Highway 21 from Shuili Township further south. If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. Looking for scooter rental in Nantou? Search Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here.
    Boat: You can circle the lake via three spots: Shuise Pier, Xuanguang Pier, and Ita Thao Pier.
    Bicycle Rental: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan’s landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can search on KKday here and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here.

    Map:

    Check out the map above.

    Drone Footage:

    Check out our drone footage of the island above.

    360 degree aerial view from above Lalu Island on Sun Moon Lake. It is a sacred island to the indigenous people here who…

    Posted by Foreigners in Taiwan 外國人在台灣 on Sunday, October 29, 2023

    You can also check out our 360-degree panorama above.

    Our Journey:

    Because Lalu Island is a sacred place for the Thao indigenous tribe, I have never set foot on the island. The closest I have ever been is on a boat or via drone. As of the time of writing this blog, there are currently no airspace restrictions for drones over Lalu Island. That being said, I am glad that this island is being protected as a sacred space, and not a tourist destination for the KMT. Taiwan did something right here.

    Since none of us can visit the island in person, I will take you on a virtual tour via drone.

    I think these outer floating platoforms mark the former extent of the island before it sank in the 921 earthquake.

    Some boats, like this one, will sail close to the island to give visitors a better look.

    There may be a way to visit the island in person, but it would require getting permission from the local Thao tribe.

    Here you can see a statue of the sacred deer that led the original Thao people to Sun Moon Lake.

    Here you can see a staircase to the top of the island and a large stone in the center.

    The island is quite close to Xuanguang Wharf.

    Another view of Lalu Island from Wenwu Temple.

    Check out our full guide to Sun Moon Lake here.

    Check out our full guide to Nantou County here.

    Check out our guide to Taiwan here.

  • Nantou Travel Guide: Taiwan’s Most Stunning Mountain Getaway 南投縣懶人包

    Nantou lies at the heart of Taiwan and is its only landlocked county. It is known for its rugged natural landscapes and mountains, and includes the highest mountain in East Asia. If you come to Taiwan, you should definitely pass through this place and stop by some of the sights we will mention below.

    🛥️ Planning your trip to Nantou? ⛰️

    Here are some top travel tips for you:

    How to get around Nantou:

    As always, we recommend renting a scooter as the best way to see Taiwan. However, you can also a great deal of Miaoli by taking the train to Taichung and then switching to an inter-city bus, or local bus. Getting around in a car is also a convenient option as there is plenty of parking pretty much everywhere in this less crowded county. 
    Scooter Rental: Looking for scooter rental in Nantou? Search Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
    Car Rental: If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. 
    By Bus: You can book tickets to travel to Nantou via inter-city bus on Klook here. 
    By Train: You can book tickets to Taichung via high speed rail (HSR)  on Klook here or KKDay here, or book tickets via the normal train (TRA)  on Klook here, then switch to a bus to Nantou. 
    Bicycle Rental: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan’s landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can search on KKday here and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. 

    Tours: 

    ​There are many tours and activities available in Nantou such as river Tracing, paragliding, Shanlinxi Forest Recreation Area 杉林溪, Cona’s Chocolate Castle, Shuiyuan Suspension Bridge, JOJOZOO Park, and Aowanda Forest Recreation Area.
    You can find more tours of Nantou on Klook here or KKday here. 

    Where to Stay:

    We have stayed at and recommend Jenq Yang Hotspring Hotel (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Trip.com here, or Klook here), a hot spring hotel near the mystical Lushan hot spring, and Maple Leaf Holiday Villa (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Trip.com here, or Klook here), a lodge with a great view and within walking distance of Cingjing Farm. I also have stayed at and recommend Kirin Villa (you can book on Agoda here), a mountain resort in Puli near Sun Moon Lake. 
    Looking for a hotel? Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality accommodation on the islands.

    Map:

     

    Below is a map of these sites:

    Let’s get started with the list!

    Climbing Jade Mountain in one Day  (Yushan) 外國人單攻玉山

    Picture

     
    Climbing Jade Mountain, the highest peak in East Asia, is a major travel destination for people from all over the world. It takes some fitness to climb and requires 1-2 days. As much as people like to play down how hard it is, the last 2.4 K, 550 meter climb at 3000+ meters （1.5 mile, 2000 foot climb at 10,000 feet) is a tough test for anyone. But, climbing it in one day gives you more flexibility time-wise, is easier to get a spot, and takes less time…(read more)

    Hours:
    You must leave for Paiyun Lodge before 9 AM.

    Permits:
    The mountain permit and park entry permit can both be applied for online. Some special requirements for the day hike though are that you must have experience climbing mountains above 3000 meters in the past 5 years. All you have to do is upload a picture of yourself on top of a mountain above 3000 meters and tell them which mountain it was. Also, you must give the park personal information such as name, age, and ID or passport number.

    ​How to get there:
    Fom Chiayi: Take provincial highway 18 east until the edge of Chiayi, you will see the trailhead on the right going up the mountain. 
    From Xinyi Township: Take provincial highway 21 west up the mountain. Please note this road is only open during daylight hours due to rock falls. 
    ​
    You can book a hiking tour to Jade Mountain on Klook here. 

    ​The Ultimate Guide to Sun Moon Lake 日月潭極限指南

    Picture

     
    Sun Moon Lake is a beautiful scenic area in Taiwan and a popular tourist destination. Besides the lakeside scenery, one can also enjoy boat rides, Taiwanese street food, gift shops, temples, a gondola, an aborigine theme park, and more. It is for sure a must-see destination for anyone coming to vacation in Taiwan…(read more) 

    Background:
    Sun Moon Lake (aka Zintun in the local Thao language) is the largest natural lake in Taiwan and home of the aboriginal Thao tribe. According to legend, a white deer led the tribe to the lake and is now trapped in a marble stone on Lalu Island, which is sacred ground to them. 
    The name “Sun Moon Lake” comes from the different colors of the water in the lake, some of it being murky and on other parts of the lake, clear. Another account says that the name comes from parts of the lake being round like the sun, and other parts of the lake being curved like the moon. 
    The first hydroelectric plant was built on the lake in 1919 by the Japanese, which was later taken over by the ROC government. The hydroelectric power is part of a system of hydro power plants running from Wushe to Sun Moon Lake down to Shuili Township and includes at least 8 plants.
    Sun Moon Lake Scenic area was created in 2000. The lake attracts visitors from around the world year round for its beauty and surrounding sights and is also known for the annual Sun Moon Lake Swimming Carnival which thousands of people attend each year.

    How to Get There:
    Bus: There are buses (Ubus/Kbus/etc) that leave all day from Taichung Station. 
    By Car: Take National Highway 6 from Taichung up to Puli, and then follow the signs on Highway 21 down to Sun Moon Lake. You can also take a car/scooter up Highway 21 up from Shuili Township further south. 
    Boat: You can circle the lake via three spots: Shuise Pier, Xuanguang Pier, and Ita Thao Pier.

    Price:
    Scenic Area Entrance: Free
    Parking: Around 100 NT per day for cars
    Boat Ride: 300 NT per person
    Gondola Ride (Ropeway): 300 NT per person
    Formosan Aboriginal Cultural Village: 850 NT per person

    Hours:
    Scenic Area: 24/7
    Parking: 24/7
    Boat Ride: roughly 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM every day
    Gondola Ride: 10:30 AM – 4:00 PM every day. You can book tickets for a discount here. 
    Formosan Aboriginal Cultural Village: 9:30 AM- 5 PM every day You can book tickets for a discount on Klook here. 

    Activities
    You can book water, biking, and other activities at Sun Moon Lake on Klook here or KKday here, for such activities as:

    I also have stayed at and recommend Kirin Villa, a mountain resort in Puli near Sun Moon Lake. ​

    Jiuzu Cultural Village 九族文化村

    Picture

     
    ​​On the other side of the gondola, you will find yourself at Formosan Aboriginal Cultural Village, which is an aborigine-themed theme park. It has the tallest roller coaster ride in Taiwan, as well as a full theme park,  gardens, aboriginal cultural exhibits, aboriginal parades, and shows…(read more) 

    Price:
    980 NT per person.
    You can book tickets for a discount on Klook here. 

    Hours:
    9:30 AM to 5 PM

    ​How to get there:
    By gondola: Take the gondola from Sun Moon Lake
    By Car/Scooter: From Puli, take County Road 67 southeast until you reach the park. ​

    Xitou 溪頭

    Picture

     
    Xitou, officially known as Xitou Nature Education Area (溪頭自然教育園區) is a forested nature park in Nantou County Taiwan. The park includes a forest skywalk, bamboo forests, forest experiments, over 70 species of bird, and a monster-themed village. It is a great day trip for nature lovers and hikers, and a unique way to enjoy Taiwan’s ecology….(read more)

    History:
    The Xitou experimental forest was set up during the Japanese occupation of Taiwan under the University of Tokyo. After the ROC took control of Taiwan, the area was changed to a nature reserve. In 2016, the thousand-year-old pine tree that once sat in the park fell over after heavy rain, and its seeds were used to plant more trees.

    Hours:
    7 AM to 5 PM every day
    ​
    Price:
    200 NT per person. You can book tickets for a discount on Klook here. 
    100 NT for parking

    How to get there:
    By Car/Scooter: Take County Road 151 toward Lugu and Xitou. Xitou Nature Area is at the very end of the road.
    By Bus: There are many direct busses to Xitou from Taichung (also Caotun and Nantou).

    Xitou Monster Village 溪頭妖怪村 

    Xitou Monster Village is a Japanese monster-folklore-themed village in the mountains of Nantou, in front of Xitou Nature Education Area. Here you can find lots of restaurants, hotels, and Japanese monster-themed structures. It is almost like a trip to Japan without leaving Taiwan. Check out our full guide to Xitou Monster Village here.

    Aowanda 奧萬大

    Aowanda (aka Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area) was an ancient hunting ground for the Atayal Tribe and was an area for Japanese hydroelectric power development. Now it has been converted into a nature preserve with an easy hiking trail for the public to enjoy, and is now famous for its maple trees and cherry blossoms. You should definitely check out this high-mountain gem if you are in the area…(read more)

    Price:
    Scenic Area Entrance: 200 NT
    Parking: Around 100 NT per day for cars
    You can book entrance tickets for a discount on Klook here or KKday here.

    Hours:
    8 AM to 5 PM

    Sun-Link-Sea (Shanlinxi) 杉林溪

    Sun-Link-Sea (aka Shanlinxi or Sun-Link-Sea Forest Ecological Resort (杉林溪森林生態渡假園區) is an amazing forest wonderland in the high mountains of Nantou County near Alishan. Here you can find one of Taiwan’s most beautiful waterfalls that flows over a giant cave. You can also wander through beautiful forests and gardens here and enjoy nature at a high altitude. It is definitely worth a trip for all nature lovers…(read more)

    Price:
    Scenic Area Entrance: 350 NT per person
    Parking: Around 100 NT per day for cars
    You can book tours for a discount on Klook here, KKday here, or Trip.com here.

    Hours:
    Scenic Area: 7 AM to 9 PM
    Shuttle Bus: 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM

    ​​Qingjing Farm 清境農場

    • Picture

     
    Qingjing Farm (aka Cingjing Farm) is a high mountain farm in Renai Township of Nantou County. It features beautful mountain scenery, a sheep petting zoo, animal shows, horse riding, and horsemanship shows…(read more)

    Price:
    Full adult ticket: 200 NT on holidays, otherwise 160 NT
    Student ticket: 130 NT
    Elderly/disabled/children 6-12: 80 NT
    Groups over 30 people: 120 NT
    You can book a discount ticket for the skywalk and Swiss garden on Klook here. 

    Hours:
    8 AM – 5 PM every day!

    How to get there:
    By Bus:
    From Taichung, take the Kbus, Nantou Bus, or Quanhang bus to the Puli bus station. You can also take Kbus from Taipei Main station straight to the Puli bus station. From there, you can buy entrance tickets to Qingjing and round-trip bus tickets all in one via Nantou bus. The bus will leave and come back to Puli Station. Be sure to take the bus all the way to the Qingjing entrance.
    By Car:
    Take National Highway 6 to Puli and then continue onto provincial Highway 14 all the way to Qingjing farm. There are private parking lots above the entrance for about 200 NT a day, and there are usually extra spots even on a busy day.

    We have stayed at and recommend Maple Leaf Holiday Villa, a lodge with a great view and within walking distance of Cingjing Farm. 

    You can also take a day tour from Taichung via Klook which will cover both travel and entrance tickets to Qingjing Farmhere. 

    Qingjing Skywalk 清境高空觀景步道

    Qingjing Skywalk is an amazing feast for the eyes, with breathtaking views of Qingjing Farm, the central mountain range, and Ren’ai District’s sweeping valleys. For a small fee, you can enjoy some of the best views of Nantou on this raised walkway. It is definitely an experience you shouldn’t miss. (read more)

    Price:
    Full adult ticket: 270 NT 
    Groups over 30 people: 210 NT
    Swiss Garden: 150 NT 
    Skywalk: 50 NT 
    You can book tickets for a discount on Klook here.
    Hours:
    8 AM – 4:30 PM every day!

    Swiss Garden (Qingjing Farm) 清境農場小瑞士花園

    Swiss Garden is a beautiful high mountain garden near Qingjing Farm in Nantou. Here you can find flowers, fountains, statues, restaurants, and camping accommodations. If you come to Qingjing Farm, you should definitely check this place out…(read more)

    Price:
    Full adult ticket: 270 NT 
    Groups over 30 people: 210 NT
    Swiss Garden: 150 NT 
    Skywalk: 50 NT 
    You can buy tickets at a discount on Klook here.

    Hours:
    8 AM – 5 PM every day!

    Lushan Hot Springs 廬山溫泉

    Lushan was definitely one of the coolest places I have ever visited in Taiwan. It has nature, bridges, rivers, hot springs, food, an old street, aboriginal culture, an abandoned ghost town, and proof of nature’s destructive forces at work.
    Lushan Hot Spring Area is so interesting and awesome. Because it has officially been evacuated per an impending landslide, most hotels built before 2008 have been abandoned, and all businesses left are run illegally. Typhoons Sinlaku and Marokot have ravaged the town, and a predicted impending landslide is expected to bury the town. It’s post-apocalyptic. Visit at your own risk (or just take a virtual tour here). (read more)

    Hehuanshan – 合歡山 

    Picture

     
    Hehuan Mountain (aka Hehuanshan or Mt. Hehuan) may be the most popular place to see snow in Taiwan, partly due to the fact that it has the highest public road in the country (located at Wuling (武嶺). Most people in Taiwan live at or near sea level in a tropical/subtropical environment that never has snow. However, it does snow in Taiwan at many places with higher elevations, such as Yangmingshan, Jade Mountain, Alishan, Snow Mountain, etc. If temperatures get low enough between December and February, snow is possible to fall wherever the elevation is high enough in Taiwan. However, places like Hehuanshan are special because you can drive a vehicle right to the top…(read more)

    Hours: 24/7 unless otherwise closed by the Department of transportation

    When to Go:
    It snows on Hehuanshan usually from December to February. 
    ​You can check the current weather for Hehuanshan here and a live video feed of the mountain and ground conditions here.

    Price: Free

    How to Get There: Take provincial highway 14 from Puli, and keep going after you reach Qingjing Farm.
    Also you can take Provincial Highway 8 from Taroko Gorge National Park.
    Stop when you reach the very top of the road, the Wuling parking lot.

    Traffic Control: Buses and large trucks are not allowed. Sometimes chains are required (no one has chains in Taiwan).

    ​Hehuanshan also has one of the clearest views of the night sky in all of Taiwan. You can book a stargazing tour with KKday here or a sunrise tour with Klook here. 

    Wushe Reservoir 霧社水庫

    Wushe Reservoir, also known as Wanda Reservoir or Bihu, is formed by the Wushe Dam along the Wushe Creek in Ren’ai Township of Nantou County. The main function of the reservoir is to provide hydroelectric power. The area is a beautiful, scenic location that is well worth a visit…(read more)

    Chuping Archaeological Site 曲冰考古遺址

    Chuping Archaeological Site is the only well-preserved highland prehistoric village site on the island of Taiwan. Although the site is now just an empty field, you can still see the artifacts that are stored at the Museum of History and Philology at Academia Sinica. In this blog, we will explore the physical site as well as its historical and cultural significance…(read more)

    Wushe Incident Memorial Park 霧社事件紀念公園

    The Wushe Incident (aka Mushe Incident or Wushe Rebellion) was one of the largest uprisings against the Japanese during their colonial control over Taiwan, as well as one of the last major uprisings. As part of the rebellion, 134 Japanese were killed, and 354 Seediq Indigenous people were killed in retaliation, which all took place from 27 October to December 1930. In the aftermath, the Japanese changed their policies regarding their control of the Japanese population. This memorial in Ren’ai Township, also known as the Mona Rudo Memorial Park 莫那魯道紀念公園, in Nantou, remembers the brave indigenous warriors who lost their lives during this event…(read more)

    Zhushan Old Street 竹山老街

    Zhushan Old Street, also known as Lin Yipu Old Street (林圮埔老街), is a historical shopping area in Zhushan Township of Nantou County, with over 250 years of history. Dating back to the Kingdom of Tungning, this town has long served as the window to the central mountain range. Now this quiet street sells snacks and houses specialty shops for those who pass by…(read more)

    Checheng Railway Station and Old Street 車程車站及老街

    Checheng is the last stop along the Jiji Railway Line in Nantou, and includes a large old street and shopping area, including restored historical Japanese buildings, hearkening back to the historical importance of the town as a logging hub. Here you can find museums, snacks, and beautiful scenery. It is definitely worth a stop…(read more)

    Jiji Railway Line 集集線

    Picture
     
    The Jiji Railway Line is a former freight and logging railway built during the Japanese colonial era that has now been converted into a tourist railway. Popular stops along the line include Jiji, Shuili, and Checheng, but there are many hidden gems along the way. It is definitely worth a trip while you are in Taiwan…(read more)

    Price:

    44 NT one way
    ​
    Hours:
    6 AM to 9 PM

    ​How to get there:
    Trains leave to the Jiji Railway from Zhanghua Station, Yuanlin Station, Tianzhong Station, and Shuili Station. 

    You can book tickets to travel to Nantou via inter-city bus on Klook here. ​

    ​Ershui Songbo Temple Trail 二水松柏廟步道

    Picture
     
    The Songbo Temple Trail runs through the forest that goes from Ershui Village in Changhua County up the mountain to Songbo Temple in Nantou County. Along this trail, one can spot lots of Formosan Macaques, which are indigenous to Taiwan. If you come, you can enjoy a sure sighting of monkeys, but for your safety do not feed them or get close to them…(read more)

    Length:
    1.4 km one way, about 250 meters of elevation gain.
    Plan about 3 hours for this hike, or more if you stop for a while to look at the Monkeys.

    Hours:
    24/7

    Price:
    Free

    How to get there:
    By Car/Scooter: From Ershui, cross to the west side of the tracks and north to Fengbai Road (豐柏路) until you reach the trail entrance at Fengbo Plaza (豐柏廣場).
    By Train: Take the TRA to Ershui Station. From there, walk (1.5KM, 20 minutes) or take a taxi to the trail entrance at Fengbo Plaza (豐柏廣場).

    You can book a tour of Jiji and the Nantou Sky Bridge here. ​

    ​Jiji Wuchang Temple 集集武昌宮

    Picture
     
    The Jiji Wuchang Temple (aka 921 Earthquake Museum ​九二一地震紀念館) in Jiji Township of Nantou County is a monument to the 921 earthquake that hit Taiwan in 1999, which killed thousands of people. The temple stood near the epicenter of the earthquake, and the first floor of the temple collapsed. Now a new temple has been built, but the old one has been left untouched, a testament to the power of the 921 earthquake…(read more).

    Hours:
    24/7

    Price:
    Free

    How to get there:
    By Car/Scooter: From Mingjian, take provincial highway 16 east toward Jiji. Turn left on Bazhang Street in Jiji, and you will see the temple on your left. 
    By Train: Take the Jiji train line from Yuanlin all the way to Jiji Station. The temple is about a 1KM walk northeast of the station. 
    ​
    ​You can book a tour of Jiji and Nantou Sky Bridge here. ​

    Nantou Houtanjing Sky Bridge 猴探井天空之橋

    Picture
     
    Nantou’s Houtanjing Sky Bridge (aka just Sky Bridge) is a tourist attraction near Nantou City, which features great views of Yuanlin and Changhua County. If you visit Nantou, this place should definitely be on your list…(read more)

    Background:
    Nantou Sky Bridge was built in 2009 at a price of 20 million NT by the Houtanjing National Scenic Area. It is 204 meters long and sits 70 meters above the valley below. Only 150 people are allowed on the bridge at a time. 

    Hours:
    8:30 to 5:30

    Price:
    50 NT per person

    How to get there:
    By Car/Scooter: Take Highway 139 from Nantou City up the mountain until you reach the bridge.
    By bus: From Yuanlin TRA Station, you can take Changhua Bus 6925A to Xiaping, and from there, it is about a ten-minute walk to the bridge.

    You can book a tour of Jiji and Nantou Sky Bridge here. ​

    ​Chung Tai Shan Monastery 中台山寺廟

    Picture
     
    The Chung Tai Shan Monastery in Puli, Nantou County (aka Chung Tai Chan Buddhist Temple) is a large monastery, built by the same architect who built the Taipei 101. The building features a full-size wooden pagoda inside the main tower, as well as a Buddhist museum. It is the tallest Buddhist Monastery in the world. 

    Hours:
    8 AM to 5:00 PM every day

    Price:
    ​Free

    How to get there:
    Car/Scooter: Take County Road 78 out of Puli (Shoucheng Road) and continue north until you see the large monastery. It is hard to miss. There is free parking near the monastery.
    Bus: Take an intercity bus from Taichung to Puli Bus Station. From there, take Nantou Bus 6651C to Chung Station.

    You can book tickets to Taichung via high speed rail (HSR)  on Klook here or KKDay here, or book tickets via the normal train (TRA)  on Klook here, then switch to a bus to Nantou. ​


    Taiwan Times Village 寶島時代村 (Baodao Shidai Cun)

    Taiwan Times Village (Baodao Shidao Cun) was an indoor theme park with shops, antiques, performances, food, and decor from earlier eras (roughly 1940’s-50’s). Sadly, this abandoned themed landmark is now history…(read more)

    Caotun Heping Old Street 草屯和平老街

    Caotun Heping Old Street is a short old street with a short row of buildings reflecting wealth from a former era. It is not a touristy old street by any measure. You might not even recognize it from any other street in Taiwan…(read more)

    99 Peaks Forest Trail 九九峰森林步道

    Picture
     
    The 99 Peaks Trail (aka Jiujiufeng Forest Trail or 九十九峰) in Caotun Township of Nantou County is one of the most unique and beautiful places in Taiwan. It features extremely steep grassy hills that look like they are from a cartoon. This is due to the easily eroding sediment that they are made out of. Taiwan’s torrential rains and earthquakes have sped up the erosion on these hills, making them especially steep and pointy, and creating what looks like 99 peaks on the horizon. From the trail one clearly see the jagged 99 peaks as well as beautiful views of Caotun and Nantou…(read more)

    Hours:
    24/7

    Price:
    Free

    Length:
    1 KM one way
    About 1 hour total
    About 200 meters of elevation gain.

    Difficulty:
    Easy

    How to get there:
    By Car: Take National Freeway 6 toward Puli and get off at the east Caotun interchange. Then drive east on Provincial Highway 14 until you reach the Jianxing Rad intersection on the other side of the river. Turn left and keep going until you reach the trailhead. 
    By Scooter: Ride east on Provincial Highway 14 until you reach Jianxing Rad intersection on the other side of the river. Turn left and keep going until you reach the trailhead. 
    By Bus: Take bus 6268A east out of Caotun and get off at Pinglin Station. From there it is about a 20-minute walk to the trailhead.  ​

     
     

    The hot spring in Lushan was once considered the best in Taiwan. The only way to get there is by river tracing up from the main town or paying to take a soak in a rusty shack here.

    Zhongxing New Village 中興新村

    Is this America? No, it’s Zhongxing New Village in Nantou where every house looks like this. The village was built to look like the then city of London. Originally the provincial government was set up here but was later moved to Taipei.

    Places we missed:

    Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Nantou.
    ​
    You can find more tours of Nantou on Klook here or KKday here. 

    You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here. 

  • Sun Moon Lake Travel Guide: Taiwan’s Most Beautiful Lake 日月潭旅游指南

    Sun Moon Lake is a beautiful scenic area in Taiwan and a popular tourist destination. Besides the lakeside scenery, one can also enjoy boat rides, Taiwanese street food, gift shops, temples, a gondola, an Aborigine theme park, and more. It is a must-see destination for anyone who is coming on vacation in Taiwan. Here is our guide to Sun Moon Lake after countless visits to the area.

    🛥️ Planning your trip to Sun Moon Lake? ⛰️

    Here are some top travel tips for you:

    Background:

    Sun Moon Lake (aka Zintun in the local Thao language) is the largest natural lake in Taiwan and the home of the aboriginal Thao tribe. According to legend, a white deer led the tribe to the lake and is now trapped in a marble stone on Lalu Island, which is sacred ground to them.
    Sun Moon Lake used to be separated by Lalu Island into two main bodies of water, Sun Lake and Moon Lake. These lakes were still technically one lake, but later, with the damming of the lake and raising the water level, the land on Lalu Island, which separated them, was mostly submerged. The reason why these lakes were so named is that one lake was murky and the other was clear. Also, one lake was more round like the sun, and the other lake was curved like the moon.

    The first hydroelectric plant was built on the lake in 1919 by the Japanese, and it was later taken over by the ROC government. The hydroelectric power is part of a system of hydropower plants running from Wushe to Sun Moon Lake down to Shuili Township and includes at least 8 plants.
    Sun Moon Lake Scenic Area was created in 2000. The lake attracts visitors from around the world year-round for its beauty and surrounding sights, and is also known for the annual Sun Moon Lake Swimming Carnival which thousands of people attend each year.

    Price:

    Scenic Area Entrance: Free
    Parking: Around 100 NT per day for cars
    Ferry Ride (starting at Shuitou Pier): 300 NT per person. You can book tickets for a discount on Klook here.
    Paddle Boat Ride: 300 NT per person
    Gondola Ride (Ropeway): 500 NT per person
    Formosan Aboriginal Cultural Village: 980 NT per person. You can book tickets for a discount on Klook here.

    Hours:

    Scenic Area: 24/7
    Parking: 24/7
    Ferry Ride (starting at Shuitou Pier): 9 AM to 5 PM. Ferries leave roughly every 30 minutes.
    Paddle Boat Ride: roughly 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM every day
    Gondola Ride: 10:30 AM – 4:00 PM every day
    Formosan Aboriginal Cultural Village: 9:30 AM- 5 PM every day

    Tours:

    There are many tours and activities available at Sun Moon Lake such as SUP / standup Paddleboarding, Electric Boating, Canoeing, and Paddle Boarding, Water bike experience, Ebike Rental, and Kayaking
    You can find more tours of Nantou on Klook here or KKday here.

    Cherry Blossom Season:

    Cherry Blossoms can be seen in the park from February to late March. Check out our full guide to Cherry Blossom Season in Taiwan here. 

    Firefly Season

    Firefly season at Sun Moon Lake is from May to June. Check out our firefly season guide here.

    Where to Stay:

    We have stayed at and recommend Kirin Villa (you can book on Agoda here or Booking.com here), a mountain resort in Puli near Sun Moon Lake.
    Looking for a hotel? Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands.

    How to get there:

    Bus: There are buses (Ubus/Kbus/etc) that leave all day from Taichung Station. You can book tickets to travel to Nantou via inter-city bus on Klook here.
    You can book tickets to Taichung via high-speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here, or book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here, then switch to a bus to Nantou.
    By Car/Scooter: Take National Highway 6 from Taichung up to Puli, and then follow the signs on Highway 21 down to Sun Moon Lake. You can also take a car/scooter up Highway 21 from Shuili Township further south. If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. Looking for scooter rental in Nantou? Search Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here.
    Boat: You can circle the lake via three spots: Shuise Pier, Xuanguang Pier, and Ita Thao Pier.
    Bicycle Rental: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan’s landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can search on KKday here and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here.

    Map:

    Check out a map of sites we will cover in the blog above. The piers where you can take ferries are marked in blue. The rest of the sites are green.

    Drone Footage:

    Check out our drone footage of the lake above.

    Aerial 360 view from Ci En Pagoda at Sun Moon Lake in Nantou, Taiwan. This tower provides some of the best views of the lake and in all of Taiwan in my opinion. #慈恩塔 #日月潭 #南投 #台灣 #空拍

    Posted by Foreigners in Taiwan 外國人在台灣 on Monday, October 30, 2023

    Or check out our 360 degree panorama above.

    Our Journey:

    We have visited Sun Moon Lake a total of 7 times over 16 years, using 4 different cameras and 6 cell phone cameras, luckily mostly in good weather. In the blog below, I will stitch together all of these trips in a way that hopefully makes sense. It may not be the ultimate guide eve,r but it has most of the major sites in it.

    Picture

     
    On our most recent trip, we drove down from Puli to Shuishe Pier (水社碼頭), where we found a sweet deal on boat ride tickets that included free parking.
    There are many places that sell ferry tickets on the side of the road or near the pier. Many hostels also sell the tickets. 
    You can also find tickets for a discount on Klook here, or tickets that include bicycle rental here. 
    You can also buy a Sun Moon Lake combo ticket on Klook here. 

    Shuishe Pier 水社碼頭:

    Picture

     
    Above is the boat schedule. The first stop is Shuishe, then Xuanguang, and finally Ita Thao, before going back to Shuishe. The usual price for ferries is 300 NT.
    You can see Ferries leave roughly from 9 AM to 5 PM and come about every 30 minutes. After 5:30, you might not be able to get back to Shuitou Pier. 

    Note that you can also take a bicycle on the ferry boat for a fee of about 100 NT.

    Shuishe Village 水社村

    Picture

     
    We headed down the street looking for the boat people in blue vests. There are tons of places to eat and shop along the way in Shuitou Village. There also seems to the best hotels in this area. 
     

    Sun Moon Lake Ferry Ride 日月潭渡輪

    Picture

     
    Walking over Shuishe pier, the first stop on our boat tour. There are quite a few boat companies, but almost all of them offer the same price of 300 NT per head. If you go early enough in the morning, theoretically, you can ride the boats all day until they close after 5 PM.
    For more information about our ferry boat trip, check out our Sun Moon Lake Ferry guide here. 

    Xuanguang Wharf 炫光碼頭

    Picture

     
    In the main pavilion at Xuanguang pier, we saw some Aboriginal singers and performers. Besides some other people selling Tea Eggs, there is not much else to see here.
    However, you can take a hike or take a bus up to Xuanguang Temple or Ci En Pagoda.  
     

    Ci En Pagoda 慈恩塔

    Cien Pagoda is an iconic landmark at Sun Moon Lake that provides amazing views of the surrounding area. The pagoda is just a short hike from the main road. It is a must-see destination for anyone who is coming to Sun Moon Lake. Check out our full guide to Ci En Pagoda here.

    Lalu Island 拉魯島

    Picture

     
    From above the hill, you can see Lalu Island, a sacred Island to the Thao Tribe. I thought the boat ride would take us there, but it is off-limits. Check out our full guide to Lalu Island here. 

    Master Xuan Zang Memorial Hall 玄奘大師紀念館

    Picture

     
    Master Xuan Zang Memorial Hall as seen from the lake.

    Master Xuanzang was a Buddhist Monk during the Tang Dynasty who visited India to learn more about Buddhism. His journey was later novelized as Journey to the West.

     

    Ita Thao Wharf 伊達邵碼頭

    Picture

     
    View of Ita Thao Pier with the Ropeway (gondola) in the background. Ita Thao Old Wharf (aka Ita Thao Pier 伊達邵碼頭) is the best place for water sports and cycling at Sun Moon Lake. Here you can find Ferry rides, SUP and paddle boat experiences, bike rentals, and a bike path that goes to the Statue of Nine Frogs. There is also an Old Street with endless snacks and shops to enjoy. It is a must-see on your trip to Sun Moon Lake.
    Check out our full blog on Ita Thao Wharf here. 

    Recently, SUP paddle boards, kayaks, and paddle boats have also been added.

    You can buy tickets here or for a discount on Klook.

    More Paddle Boaters.

    They have also recently built a beautiful bike path that leads from here to the Statue of Nine Frogs.

    Ita Thao Old Street 伊達邵老街

    Picture

     
    Ita Thao Old Street (伊達邵老街) is the best place for eating and shopping at Sun Moon Lake. The street includes endless shops and restaurants, with many indigenous Thao themes. At the end of the Old Street, you can find Ita Thao Pier, which includes Ferry rides, SUP and paddle boat experiences, bike rentals, and a bike path that goes to the Statue of Nine Frogs. It is a must-see on your trip to Sun Moon Lake. Check out our full guide to Ita Thao Old Street here. 
    Picture

     
    From Ita Thao Old Street, you can walk or cycle over to the ropeway/gondola and statue of Nine Frogs. There is a nice boardwalk along the lake connecting the two.
     

    Nine Frogs Stack Statue 九蛙疊像

    From Ita Thao, you can also walk or cycle to the Stack of 9 Frogs, which gives visitors an indication of the current water level at Sun Moon Lake. There were three frogs above the water when we visited. Check out our full blog on this spot here.

     
    Picture

     
    You can also rent a bike and cycle around the whole lake! You can check out bicycle rental options on Klook here. 

    Sun Moon Lake Ropeway/Gondola Ride 日月潭纜車

     
    Picture

     
    The Sun Moon Lake Ropeway or Gondola has perhaps the best views of Sun Moon Lake. Currently, the ride takes you from Ita Thao Pier to Aboriginal Cultural Village Amusement Park. Check out this blog for a virtual tour.
    Picture

     

    View from on top of the ropeway.

    Formosan Aboriginal Cultural Village九族文化村

    Picture

     
    On the other side of the gondola, you will find yourself at Formosan Aboriginal Cultural Village. Formosan Aboriginal Cultural Village is Taiwan’s only large Indigenous-themed amusement park. Here you can find roller coasters, dolphin shows, indigenous dances, museums, and more. You can also visit Sun Moon Lake via the Ropeway/Gondola. It is definitely an experience you don’t want to miss. Check out our full blog on this place here. 
    Picture

     
    I did go to the Formosan Aboriginal Cultural Village. I did pay the 980 entrance fee. Worth it? Yes!
    Sorry for the blurry photos. You’ll just have to go there yourself to enjoy it!

    You can book tickets for a discount on Klook here. 

    Wenwu Temple 文武廟

    Picture

     
    Wenwu Temple is not on the Ferry Route, but I am adding it here anyway in case you want to see it on the way in or out of Sun Moon Lake. On the north side of the lake is Wenwu Temple, the biggest temple in the area. You can’t get there by boat, but you can walk or drive.

    Wenwu temples are Chinese temples that combine deities from literature and war.
    This temple has halls dedicated to the God of War, the Warrior God, the God of Literature, and Confucius.
    The original temple was built in 1938, as a consolidation of two temples that were flooded after a dam was built on the lake. It was rebuilt and expanded again in 1969 as a tourist destination.
    Check out our full blog on Wenwu Temple here. 

    Sun Moon Lake Xiangshan Visitor Center 日月潭向山行政暨遊客中心

    After you get back to Shuishe Pier, you can drive or bike over to Sun Moon Lake’s Xiangshan Visitor Center, which is a beautiful piece of architecture, with great views of Sun Moon Lake. With curves and pools inspired by the lake itself, it is a combination of nature and engineering. Lately, it has become a popular tourist destination for Instagrammers. Check out our full blog on this place here.

    Shuishe Dam 水社壩

    Picture

     
    On the south side of Shuishe, you can find the Shuishe Dam, which was built in 1934 along with Toushe Dam 頭社壩 to control the water level on the lake and make way for hydroelectric power. Even though Sun Moon Lake was originally a natural lake, its surface area has been greatly increased by the construction the the Shuishe and Toushe Dams. The Shuishe Dam is now a popular scenic area along the lake, including a bike path and road that runs across it. It is a nice place to stop and enjoy the scenery. Check out our full blog on Shuishe Dam here. 

    Places and things we missed:

    You can find more tours of Nantou on Klook here or KKday here.

    And a ton of other places, including temples, trails, farms, restaurants, etc. You’ll have to go exploring and find them yourself!

    Check out our full guide to Nantou here.

    You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here.

     
     
  • Qingjing Skywalk 清境高空觀景步道

    Qingjing Skywalk is an amazing feast for the eyes, with breathtaking views of Qingjing Farm, the central mountain range, and Ren’ai District’s sweeping valleys. For a small fee, you can enjoy some of the best views of Nantou on this raised walkway. It is definitely an experience you shouldn’t miss.

    🛥️ Planning your trip to Nantou? ⛰️

    Here are some top travel tips for you:

    Historical Background:

    During Japanese rule, the area around Qingjing farm was originally pasture for the cattle of the Seediq aboriginal tribe. This is the same tribe that caused the Mushe Incident, the biggest rebellion against the Japanese during that era, involving mass killings of Japanese and even more Aboriginals in return. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you should watch the film Warriors of the Rainow: Seediq Bale. The Mushe incident memorial can be found a little further down the road in Wushe as the Mona Rudo Resistance Monument. 

    Later in 1959 the ROC government made the area a relocation area for a few military families to plant tropical fruits. In 1967 Chiang Chin-kuo (Chiang Kai-shek’s son) visited the area and remarked: 「清新空氣任君取，境地優雅是仙居」meaning “There is fresh air for one to breathe, and the area is elegant like the dwelling place of a fairy.” From then on, the farm changed its name from Rongmin Farm (榮民農場meaning honorary citizens’ farm) to Qingjing Farm, meaning “Fresh Landscape.”

    By 1985 the farms around Qingjing were all making losses. But then the first hotel was built in the area, the income of which was greater than that of the farm itself. From then on, the tourist sector of Qingjing Farm began. Nowadays, the farm is purely a tourist attraction, and many hotels and hostels have been built in the area. 

    Nantou’s Qingjing Skywalk opened in 2017 and was revamped again in 2019. The path is 1.2 kilometers long and sits at an altitude of 1800 meters. The skywalk itself is raised 10 meters from the ground.

    Price:

    Full adult ticket: 270 NT 
    Groups over 30 people: 210 NT
    Swiss Garden: 150 NT 
    Skywalk: 50 NT 
    You can book tickets for a discount on Klook here.

    Hours:

    8 AM – 4:30 PM every day!

    Cherry Blossom Season:

    Cherry Blossoms can be seen in the park from February to late March. Check out our full guide to Cherry Blossom Season in Taiwan here. 

    How to get to Qingjing Skywalk:

    By Bus:
    From Taichung, take the Kbus, Nantou Bus, or Quanhang bus to the Puli bus station. You can also take Kbus from Taipei Main Station straight to the Puli bus station. From there, you can buy entrance tickets to Qingjing and round-trip bus tickets all in one via Nantou bus. The bus will leave and come back to Puli Station. Be sure to take the bus all the way to the Qingjing entrance. 
    You can book tickets to travel to Nantou via inter-city bus on Klook here. 
    You can book tickets to Taichung via high-speed rail (HSR)  on Klook here or KKDay here, or book tickets via the normal train (TRA)  on Klook here, then switch to a bus to Nantou. 

    By Car/Scooter:
    Take National Highway 6 to Puli and then continue onto Provincial Highway 14 all the way to Qingjing Farm. There are private parking lots above the entrance for about 200 NT a day, and there are usually extra spots even on a busy day.

    Looking for scooter rental in Nantou? Search Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
    If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. 

    Bicycle Rental: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan’s landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can search on KKday here and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. 

    Tours: 

    ​There are many tours and activities available in Nantou, such as river Tracing, paragliding, Shanlinxi Forest Recreation Area 杉林溪, Cona’s Chocolate Castle, Shuiyuan Suspension Bridge, JOJOZOO Park, and Aowanda Forest Recreation Area.
    You can find more tours of Nantou on Klook here or KKday here. 

    Where to Stay:

    We have stayed at and recommend Maple Leaf Holiday Villa (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, Expedia.com here, Trip.com here, or Klook here), a lodge with a great view and within walking distance of Cingjing Farm.
    Looking for a hotel? Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality accommodation on the islands.

    Map:

    Check out the map above.

    Our Journey:

    The Skywalk that circles around Qingjing Farm offers amazing views of the central mountain range. It stretches for about 3 KM round trip and 250M of elevation and is fun walking down, but not so fun walking back up.​

    The entrance to the skywalk is at the bottom of the hill once you enter Qingjing Farm.

    Qingjing Skywalk
    The Qingjing Skywalk is located at an elevation of about 1,700 to 2,000 meters above sea level and stretches along the contour of the hillside. It offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and pastures, allowing visitors to experience the beauty of nature up close. The walkway connects several popular scenic spots in Qingjing, including the Green Green Grasslands and the 487-Step Trail, making it a great way to explore the area while enjoying the cool mountain breeze and spectacular landscapes.

    Entrance to the skywalk. You can buy tickets at the gate, or buy them for a discount on Klook here.

    A couple walking across the skywalk.

    View of the skywalk with the Qingjing Windmill in the background.

    Grassy hills of Qingjing Farm.

    View of downtown Ren’ai.

    Sheep grazing in front of a pavilion at Qingjing Farm.

    View of high mountain farms and tea plantations.

    Visitors walk past more grazing sheep.

    View across the valley at more farms.

    View of the windmill at Qingjing.

    View further down at Qingjing Farm.

    Mountaintop tea plantations.

    Closeup on the windmill and some sheep.

    Looking back at the entrance of Qingjing Farm.

    A waterfall across the valley.

    Here the skywalk opens up into a wider platform.

    Panoramic view.

    View of the Old England manor down the road.

    Looking back up the skywalk from where we came.

    Looking back at the entrance to Qingjing Farm.

    Heart-shaped selfie spot.

    Closeup on some sheep.

    A man taking photos of sheep.

    More sheep and lambs.

    A small herd.

    View further down the skywalk.

    View looking at the road to Lushan.

    The sun came out for a few minutes here.

    A family poses for a photo here.

    View of the river down below.

    View of Yunlong Bridge 雲龍橋.

    Here are some photos that I took looking back from Yunlong Bridge 雲龍橋.

    You can see the skywalk on the top of the ridgeline.

    View looking down at a camp site.

    Another view looking back at the sky bridge.

    More onlookers enjoying the views.

    More photo takers.

    More sunlit hills.

    Tea plantations in the high mountains.

    Kids running on the central platform.

    You can’t see it from the skybridge, but further down the road you can also get some great views of Wushe Reservoir. Wushe Reservoir, also known as Wanda Reservoir or Bihu, is formed by the Wushe Dam along the Wushe Creek in Ren’ai Township of Nantou County. The main function of the reservoir is to provide hydroelectric power. The area is a beautiful scenic location that is well worth a visit. Check out our full blog on the Wushe Reservior here.

    If you have time, you can also visit the Swiss Garden. Swiss Garden is a beautiful high mountain garden near Qingjing Farm in Nantou. Here you can find flowers, fountains, statues, restaurants, and camping accommodations. If you come to Qingjing Farm, you should definitely check this place out. Check out our full guide to the Swiss Garden here.

    You can buy tickets to Qingjing Skywalk for a discount on Klook here.

    Check out our full blog to Qingjing Farm here.

    Check out our full guide to Nantou County here.
    Check out our guide to Taiwan here.