National park · Taiwan
Sun Moon Lake日月潭
There is no lake entrance fee: pay only for boats (about NT$300), the cable car and the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village (NT$900). Ride the 30 km (19 mi) loop on a weekday, and go Oct–Apr; weekends double room rates.There is no lake entrance fee: pay only for boats (about NT$300), the cable car and the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village (NT$900). Ride the 19 mi (30 km) loop on a weekday, and go Oct–Apr; weekends double room rates.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
18,100 km² (6,988 sq mi)6,988 sq mi (18,100 km²)
approximate
Established
1999
Best months
Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 5
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- Taiwan ↗Check visa-exemption length, passport validity and the online arrival card (TWAC) on the official sites before you fly.
- Taiwan ↗An EasyCard (or iPASS) covers MRT, buses, local trains and many convenience-store purchases; buy one at the airport or a station.
- Taiwan ↗When a local government declares a typhoon day, transport and sights can close for the day; follow the official notice, not the forecast alone.
At a glance
- Country
- Taiwan
- Area
- 18,100 km² (6,988 sq mi)6,988 sq mi (18,100 km²)
- The scenic area is a designated zone of about 18,100 ha around the lake, not a fenced park; the lake itself is roughly 7.9 km² (check).
- Established
- 1999
- Best months
- Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Taichung
Sun Moon Lake is Taiwan's largest lake, at about 760 m in the hills of Nantou County, and it is a national scenic area rather than a gated park: you can walk the shore, drive the loop road and visit the temples for nothing. The Thao village of Ita Thao, the Wenwu Temple and the Ci-en Pagoda sit around the water; the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village and its cable car sit just north. The lake is a 1–2 night stop between Taichung and the central mountains, and it is busiest at weekends and over the Mid-Autumn Festival, when a mass 3 km swim crosses the water.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1999.
Size and age
18,100 km² (6,988 sq mi)6,988 sq mi (18,100 km²) · national park since 1999
The scenic area is a designated zone of about 18,100 ha around the lake, not a fenced park; the lake itself is roughly 7.9 km² (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Taichung.
Why go
- A 30 km (19 mi) loop road and separated bike path around the water, doable in half a day at an easy pace.A 19 mi (30 km) loop road and separated bike path around the water, doable in half a day at an easy pace.
- Boat shuttles link Shuishe, Ita Thao and Xuan Guang Si in about 10 minutes each, so you can walk one shore and ride back.
- The Ci-en Pagoda and the Wenwu Temple give the two best lake views without a long climb.
- Tea country on the approach from Puli: the Antique Assam tea farm is a short stop on the way in.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayGo
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepCaution
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecGo
- JanCool and often misty; quiet midweek
- FebCool; cherry blossom around the lake
- MarMild, clearer skies
- AprWarm and dry; good cycling
- MayWarm; plum rains start
- JunHot and wet; afternoon storms
- JulTyphoon season; boats may stop
- AugHottest month; typhoon risk
- SepStorm tails; Mid-Autumn swim crowds
- OctDry, clear and mild; best all-round
- NovDry and cool; good visibility
- DecCool; occasional rain
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake birds and winter visitors on the waterNov–Feb · Quieter shores early morning. | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
| Fireflies in the surrounding hillsApr–May · Evening walks with local guides; do not use white torches. | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Cherry blossom around the lakeFeb–Mar | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Taichung
Nantou Bus shuttle from Gancheng station or HSR Taichung station, via Puli, to Shuishe.
1.5–2 h
Open the page →
From Taipei
Kuo-Kuang Bus 1833 from Taipei Bus Station, about four departures a day.
3.5–4 h
Open the page →
From Puli
Local buses 6289, 6668 or 6670 from Puli station to the lake.
30–40 min
From Nantou County plan
Where the lake fits with Puli, Yushan and the central mountains.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Shuishe | Main village, visitor centre, bus stop and most hotels and bike shops. | Open; the transport hub. |
| Ita Thao | Thao village on the south shore with food streets and the cable car station. | Open; boat and road. |
| North shore | Wenwu Temple above the water and the road on toward Puli. | Open; road and short steps. |
| Ci-en Pagoda hill | Forested hill southeast of the lake with the pagoda viewpoint. | Open 09:00–16:30 (check); steps and a short road.Open 9:00 AM–4:30 PM (check); steps and a short road. |
| Lalu Island | Small sacred island of the Thao in the middle of the lake. | No landing; seen from boats. |
Sketch map
- 1Shuishe · Town≈23.865, 120.911Map ↗
- 2Wenwu Temple · Viewpoint≈23.870, 120.927Map ↗
- 3Ita Thao · Village≈23.847, 120.934Map ↗
- 4Ci-en Pagoda · Viewpoint≈23.842, 120.921Map ↗
- 5Lalu Island · Summit≈23.855, 120.928Approximate; no landing.Map ↗
- 6Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village · Ranger station≈23.870, 120.950Approximate; north of the lake.Map ↗
Take the points offline
6 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions around the lake, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake and shore access (scenic area) | Free | person | No gate fee for the lake, temples or shore paths. |
| Boat shuttle (Shuishe – Ita Thao – Xuan Guang Si) | TWD 100–300 (≈ US$4–10) | person | Single hop about NT$100; day tickets and tours about NT$300 (check). |
| Bicycle rental | TWD 200–300 (≈ US$7–10) | bicycle | Per day until evening, from shops by the Shuishe visitor centre. |
| Rowboat and lifejacket | TWD 200 (≈ US$7) | hour | Plus about NT$200 refundable deposit; rented at the piers. |
| Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village | TWD 900 (≈ US$30) | adult | Theme park and cable car north of the lake; 2026 estimate. |
| Bus from Taichung (Gancheng or HSR station) | TWD 193 (≈ US$7) | person one way | Return about NT$360; Nantou Bus shuttle. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Lake access no permit
Mid-Autumn mass swim permit or guide
Swimming outside the event permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- NT$100–300≈ US$4–10
- NT$200–300≈ US$7–10
- NT$200≈ US$7
- NT$900≈ US$30
- NT$193≈ US$7
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area — official site before you go.
Park rules
- Swimming
- Not allowed in the lake except during the registered Mid-Autumn crossing.
- Lalu Island
- Sacred to the Thao; boats pass but do not land.
- Drones
- Check with the scenic area administration before flying; rules are enforced around the lake (check).check
- Litter and fires
- No fires on the shore; take rubbish away from picnic and pier areas.
- Boat piers
- Board only at signed piers with a lifejacket provided.
Where to stay
Near the park
Shuishe
Hotels, hostels and the bus stop; walk to the piers and bike shops.
Near the park
Ita Thao
Village guesthouses and food streets, close to the cable car.
Near the park
North shore resorts
Higher-end lake-view hotels on the northern peninsula.
Safety
Traffic on the loop road medium
Typhoons and heavy rain medium
Heat and humidity medium
Slippery steps low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Shuishe visitor centre, piers and the main hotels are step-free and reachable by bus.
Visiting lightly
- Take the boat shuttle or bus between villages instead of driving the loop road.
- Buy from Thao-run shops in Ita Thao so the village keeps a share of tourism income.
- Carry out rubbish; shore bins are limited outside the main villages.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Sun Moon Lake?
Nothing. There is no entrance fee for the lake, the shore paths or the temples. You pay for transport and attractions: a boat hop about NT$100 or a day ticket about NT$300, bicycle rental NT$200–300 a day, and the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village about NT$900 for adults.
What are the best hikes in Sun Moon Lake?
There are no long mountain trails at the lake itself. The best walks are the Ci-en Pagoda steps for the top view, the short climb to Wenwu Temple on the north bank, and the lakeside paths at Shuishe and Ita Thao. For a full day on foot, ride or walk the 30 km loop road instead.
When is the best time to visit Sun Moon Lake?
October to April: dry, mild and clearer, with the cherry blossom in February and March. Avoid weekends and the Mid-Autumn Festival if you want quiet and cheaper rooms, and expect heat, storms and typhoon risk from June to September.
Do I need a car?
No. Buses from Taichung and Taipei reach Shuishe, boat shuttles link the villages, and bike rental covers the shore. A car only helps for early starts and the tea farms on the Puli road.
How many nights should I stay?
One or two. One night covers the boat shuttle, a temple and the pagoda; two nights add the full bike loop and the cable car or culture village without rushing.
Can you swim in Sun Moon Lake?
Only in the registered mass crossing held around the Mid-Autumn Festival, when thousands swim about 3 km. At other times swimming is not allowed.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go