Run through a dreamy course with dancing cherry blossoms – Registration now open for Sun Moon Lake Lakeside Road Race

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Network, reported by Chen Guanxin

 

The 2013 “Sun Moon Lake Cherry Blossoms Dancing in the Wind Lakeside Road Race” will kick off on February 24. During the event, the cherry blossoms at Sun Moon Lake will be in full bloom, offering one of the most beautiful and romantic running courses in Taiwan. The race will feature a 29K lakeside loop group, a 12K challenge group, and a 3K family group, with participant limits of 2,000, 3,000, and 1,000 people respectively. Registration fees are NT$800, NT$600, and NT$400. Registration is open from now until January 31. Each participant will receive one Sun Moon Lake cruise ticket and one 33% discount coupon for the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village, allowing runners to enjoy the beautiful spring scenery of Sun Moon Lake and also take a boat ride to admire the cherry blossoms from a different perspective.

The lakeside road race will start from the Shiangshan Visitor Center and follow the scenic lakeside highway, offering a tour through mountains and water. The 3K group will finish at the Shuishe Pier, while the 12K group’s endpoint will be at the Ita Thao Pier, with a shuttle boat available back to Shuishe Pier. The lakeside loop group will circle the entire Sun Moon Lake. The route is surrounded by landscapes and scattered cherry blossoms. After completing the 3K and 12K courses, participants will walk along one of CNN GO’s Top 10 Global Cycling Routes back to the main event venue at Shiangshan.

 

In addition, the 13th annual Sun Moon Lake Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village Cherry Blossom Festival will begin on February 1 and reach full bloom in mid-February, making it the largest cherry blossom viewing event in Taiwan and also the earliest in Southeast Asia. The park’s over 5,000 Taiwan cherry trees are stunning during the day, and the night cherry blossom light shows will attract large crowds. In conjunction with the flower season, from February 1 to April 7, tickets to the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village are specially priced at NT$580, with night cherry blossom afternoon tickets at NT$450, and include a ride on the Sun Moon Lake gondola.

Also located near Sun Moon Lake, National Chi Nan University has planted thousands of Taiwan mountain cherries and Japanese Somei Yoshino cherry trees on its main lawn, making it a popular cherry blossom spot in recent years. The Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Administration and Chi Nan University will hold the “Sun Moon Lake & Chi Nan University Cherry Blossom Tea Party” from February 20 to 28. On February 20 and 24 at 2:00 PM, tea party events combining humanities, art, tea ceremonies, and traditional Chinese music performances will be held. Tea stations will be set up where tea masters provide live tea ceremony experiences. About 200 spots are available for participants, at NT$200 per person. For detailed event and registration information, visit: www.sunmoonlake.gov.tw/index.aspx.

 

 

● Read more: Grass skiing, paragliding, hot air balloons – Luye Gaotai is lively all year round

http://goo.gl/B94nx