Ita Thao Wharf 伊達邵碼頭

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 in 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, 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.

Ita Thao (伊達邵), formerly known as Dehua Village (德化社) or Huafan Village (化蕃社), was originally called Barawbaw by the Thao people (邵族), who are the main indigenous group living there. It is the largest settlement along the shores of Sun Moon Lake and once a favorite spot of Chiang Kai-shek, who often came by boat to watch traditional Thao dances. Today, the village is home to Thao, Bunun (布農族), and Han Taiwanese residents, and its Old Street and pier area are lively with souvenir shops, restaurants, and guesthouses. Every year around the Mid-Autumn Festival (農曆八月十五日), the Thao people hold their grand ancestral ceremony, the Tungkariri Lus’an (祖靈祭/換年祭), celebrating their culture and renewing ties with their ancestors.

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:

Ita Thao Old Street: 9 AM to 6 PM
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.

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Drone Footage:

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Check out the aerial view of Ita Thao Wharf above.

Check out our second panorama of Ita Thao Wharf above.

Our Journey:

We have been to Ita Thao Wharf and Old Street about four times. I think it is the most vibrant place around Sun Moon Lake, with the most food options and the most shopping. There are also fun things to do here. You should definitely stop here if you come to Sun Moon Lake.

Ita Thao Pier/Wharf 伊達邵碼頭

Ita Thao Pier is usually busy with people who come on Ferry rides from hotels across the lake.

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

Another view of the water sports pier.

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.

The pier here is also just a nice place to relax.

Waterfront hotel called the Richforest Sun Moon Lake.

Here at the Richforest I have seen people go fishing from their hotel room porch.

Paddle boat rides.

Paddle boaters and SUPers at Sun Moon Lake.

Kayakers on the lake.

Overhead view of the kayakers.

Pedal-powered catamarans.

There was also a street performance on the pier when we visited.

Sunset on the pier.

Another live performance on the pier.

You might be able to get a discount on ferry tickets if you buy them here.

SUP and bike rental shop.

View inside the shop.

It can be hard to find parking here, especially on holidays. So it is best to park here, where you get free parking if you rent a bicycle.

Statue of Nine Turns Lakeside Trail 九蛙疊像步道

The Statue of Nine Frogs at Sun Moon Lake （aka Nine Frogs Stack or Nine Frog Acrobats) is a water level marker and a popular tourist destination. One can enjoy the lakeside scenery here by walking or cycling to the frogs. It is a must-see destination for anyone who is coming to Sun Moon Lake.

Check out our full blog on the Nine Frogs Trail here.

Aerial view of the paddle boarders.

Another view with the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway in the background.

Aerial view of Ita Thao Pier.

Wider view of the area.

View of the pier at sunset. This is as far as I could fly the drone.

Ita Thao Old Street 伊達邵老街

Ita Thao Old Street has the most food options around Sun Moon Lake. You will also find the largest crowds of people. There are also many novelty and indigenous related shops nearby.

You can check out more photos in the gallery above.

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.