Sun

Moon

Lake 2013 NCKU Cultural Trip

March 9

About

Sun Moon

Lake

Sun Moon Lake lies in the center

of the Shuishalian Area, which is a

part of Yuchi Township in Nantou

County. Situated in the western

foothills of Taiwan's Central

Mountain Range, between the

Western Plain and the mountains, it

lies at the center of Nantou County,

at a longitude of 120 55 east and a

latitude of 23 52 north, connecting

Puli Township in the north to Renai

Township in the northeast, Xinyi

Township in the southeast, Shuili

Township in the southwest and

Guoxing Township in the northwest.

Sun Moon Lake features the only full-range 3D tours (lake, sky and land) in Taiwan. The

lake cycling trail has been dubbed by CNNGO, CNN as one of the most beautiful cycling

trails in the world. Top scenic spots in the lake area include Lalu island, Weneu Temple, Cien

Pagoda, Lalu Island, Syuentzang Temple, Xian Mountain, Yongjie Bridge, Tongxin Bridge,

Christian Church, Meihe Garden, Formosan Aboriginal Cultural Village and Snake Kiln, and

the 14 lake trails are the top choices for sightseeing and leisure activities; specialty

recreational locations in surrounding areas include (organized based on tour theme): Jiji and

Checheng (Railway Nostalgic Trip); Dili and Sangyong (Indigenous Village Tour); Lugao

and Seshui (Black Tea Pottery Tour) and Puli Taumi and Toushe Live Basin (Nature and

Ecological Tour).

Historical

Traces

According to legend, a long time ago a group of Thao

hunters chased a rare and beautiful white deer for days and

days, going up river valleys and across mountain ridges, until

finally they entered the mountains of a place called

Shuishalian. There they discovered the deep green waters of

Sun Moon Lake, and moved their entire tribe to this beautiful

place.

The entire area around Sun Moon Lake,

including today's Yuchi, Toushe, and

Puli, was once known as Shuishalian.

During the Qing Dynasty the original

Thao settlers were joined by large

numbers of Han Chinese and Pingpu

(plains) Aborigines who moved in to

cultivate the land, thus forming the

cultural diversity of the area.

When the Japanese occupied Taiwan they channeled

water from the upper Zhuoshui River into the lake for

hydropower generation, substantially raising the

water level and increasing the lake-surface area. The

roads built by the Japanese to facilitate hydroelectric

construction made travel to the area much more

convenient, stimulating tourism at Sun Moon Lake

and the development of the surrounding area.

After Taiwan was restored to China, the construction

or renovation of Xuanguang Temple, Xuanzang

Temple, Wenwu Temple, and Ci'en Pagoda attracted

even more tourists. This transformed Sun Moon Lake

from the homeland of the Thao into a hydroelectric

powerhouse and ultimately into a famous tourist

destination.

Scenic Spots Introduction

Scenic Spots Introduction

Ci En Pagoda (慈恩塔)

Ci En Pagoda was built by the late

President Chiang Kai-shek in memory

of his mother. It was completed in April

1971 and sits on the 954 meter-high

Shabalan Mountain.

The pagoda is 46 meters tall, bringing

its top to an even 1,000 meters above

sea level. It has an imposing traditional

Chinese style and is divided into nine

stories. Visitors can climb to the top,

where they have a magnificent view of

the lake and the surrounding mountains.

Wunwu Temple

(文武廟)

Wenwu Temple is located at

the shoulder of mountain where

is on the north of Sun Moon

Lake. It was built in 1938.

The architecture of the temple

has the palace style of northern

China. It is of a large and

imposing structure, with three

separate halls. On the second

floor of the front hall is a shrine

devoted to the First Ancestor

Kaiji and the God of Literature;

the central hall is devoted to

Guan Gong, the God of War,

and the warrior-god Yue Fei;

the rear hall is dedicated to

Confucius.

Meihe Garden

(梅荷園)

Before 1970, this site was a military police station. The

name “Meihe” means “plum and water lily”,

symbolizing the spirit of the military police. The Meihe

Gardens, situated to the west of Shueishe Wharf, were

constructed after the 921 Earthquake of 1999. Now it

has become the best viewing garden of Sun Moon Lake.

Tourists can now freely visit this new landmark.

Lalu Island

(拉魯島)

This little island located in the middle of the lake is considered to be

the home of the Thao ancestral spirits. Floating docks and fields

surround the island in the shape of the Eight Diagrams.

Xiangshan Visitor Center (向山行政暨遊客中心)

The Xiangshan Visitor Center is both for tourism and administration use. The uniquely

designed building has wood-patterned exteriors and wings that stretch like human arms

embracing the earth. In addition, the two giant canopy structures, 34 meters long and 8

meters tall each, allow people to enjoy beautiful views of the Sun Moon Lake on top.

Sun

Moon

Lake