Sun Moon Lake

Sun Moon Lake

Sun Moon Lake is located in Yuchi Township, Nantou County, covering an area of over one hundred square kilometers, with a shoreline of thirty-three kilometers. It is divided by Lalu Island (Guanghua Island), with the northern half resembling a sun and the southern half shaped like a crescent moon, hence its name.

Highlights

Sun Moon Lake is almost synonymous with Taiwan’s scenic beauty, surrounded by mountains and lush forests, with crystal-clear lake water reflecting the sky above. Small islands emerge from the lake, creating a stunning view of “verdant mountains embracing emerald waters and a bright lake cradling a green pearl.” At an elevation of 760 meters, the lake enjoys a misty ambiance and layered mountain views that resemble a painting. Only by boating on the lake and getting close to the water can one fully appreciate the beautiful sunrise and sunset scenery of Sun Moon Lake.

Sun Moon Lake originates from Hehuan Mountain. Originally, it was just a small lake. During the Japanese occupation, to generate electricity, the Japanese built a 15-kilometer-long underground waterway starting from Wujie, the closest point along the Zhuoshui River to Sun Moon Lake, diverting the river’s flow through the Shuishe Mountain into the lake. This submerged several small hills, forming the Sun Moon Lake we see today. Since the lake was created by flooding a depression, it is surrounded by mountains and features winding water channels, offering spectacular scenery. The lake water is mainly used for power generation, producing up to 5 billion kWh annually—accounting for 56% of Taiwan’s hydroelectric output—with an economic value of 12.5 billion NTD. As one of the few active reservoirs in Taiwan, the water is recycled daily through Taipower’s pumped-storage generation system, keeping it fresh and transparent, which prevents excessive algae growth. Fish such as curveback fish, tilapia, and shrimp breed rapidly in the lake.

The circumference of Sun Moon Lake is about 33 kilometers. In the past, there was only the Sun Lake Road. In September 1995, after the completion of the Moon Lake Road, a full loop around the lake became possible. Visitors can drive or ride motorcycles along the lakeside to explore various scenic spots. There are two toll stations along the loop road: one near Zhongxin Hotel in the Sun Lake area, and another at the southernmost tip of the lake, known as the Moon Lake head. Starting from the Sun Lake toll station and traveling clockwise, the scenic spots along the loop include Wenwu Temple, Peacock Garden, Sun Moon Village (Dehua She), Xuanzang Temple, Ci’en Pagoda, and Xuan Guang Temple.

Legend: It is said that long ago, there were two evil dragons in this large lake who snatched the sun and the moon and played with them as if they were balls. As a result, the world was plunged into darkness, making life impossible for people. Later, a Gaoshan youth named Dajian'ge, with the help of a boatwoman named Shuishe Mei, entered the lake. One struck the dragon’s head with a golden arrow, while the other injured the dragon’s eyes with an embroidery needle, reclaiming the sun and the moon. However, no matter how hard they tried to throw them back into the sky, the sun and the moon would not rise. Eventually, they pulled two palm trees from Jade Mountain and finally managed to lift the sun and the moon back into the sky. Dajian'ge and Shuishe Mei then turned into two mountains that guard the lake—Dajian Mountain and Shuishe Mountain. Later, people noticed that the island in the lake divided the large body of water into two halves: one resembling a sun and the other a crescent moon. Thus, the lake was named “Sun Moon Lake.”

Nantou County, Taiwan