Top 5 Global Moon-Viewing Spots — Renowned Taiwanese Attractions Make the List

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team

The millennia-old tradition of moon viewing during the Mid-Autumn Festival is no longer just a Chinese cultural practice. With the advancement of information, this custom has gone global. Here are five unique global moon-viewing spots, including Australia’s one-of-a-kind Staircase to the Moon, Chile’s Moon Valley, China’s West Lake moon scenery, and more. Among them, a renowned Taiwanese attraction also makes the list and is highly recommended by foreign tourists.

1. Australia – Western Australia’s Staircase to the Moon
The dreamlike “Staircase to the Moon” in Western Australia is a globally unique lunar spectacle. From March to October each year, for two to three days after the full moon, the bright moonlight reflects off the muddy tidal flats, creating golden, stair-like ridges that look as if you could walk up to the moon.

2. China – West Lake Moon Scenery
China boasts the most classic and nostalgic moon-viewing culture. Hangzhou’s West Lake, a historical moon-viewing destination, features three of its Ten Scenes as moon-gazing landmarks: “Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake,” “Three Pools Mirroring the Moon,” and “Moon Rock Overlooking the Moon.” These have also served as key inspirations for ancient poets’ verses.
 
3. Chile – Moon Valley
Located in Chile, Moon Valley offers the sensation of admiring the moon on the lunar surface. Valle de la Luna in Chile’s Atacama Desert, shaped by unique erosion that carved dramatic steep landforms, showcases vast salt flats, mysterious caves, and a moon-like barren terrain. With the bright moon hanging high above the boundless canyon, it is a must-visit spot for backpackers traveling in South America.

4. Japan – Arashiyama, Kyoto
Kyoto’s Arashiyama offers different charms throughout the seasons. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, it preserves the traditional moon-viewing customs of the Heian period, featuring nighttime boat rides. Boarding a boat at night allows you to immerse yourself in the moonlit ambiance, words cannot fully describe the feeling. Nearby, the “Moon-Viewing Evening” event near Daikaku-ji Temple is also one of the well-known moon-gazing festivals.
 
5. Taipei – Taipei 101

In the bustling Xinyi District of Taipei, the iconic Taipei 101 building offers breathtaking night views. From the observation deck on the 89th floor, you can take in the dynamic cityscape below, with the moon peering through the clouds, enjoying a moment that feels “closest to the moon.”