Five Major Hiking Trails in Sun Moon Lake and the Nine Frogs Sculpture – Slow Living and Forest Breathing

By / MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Department, compiled and reported
 

To truly experience the charm of Sun Moon Lake, besides taking a boat ride or cycling to enjoy the most beautiful lakeside scenery, spending a little time walking along the trails around the lake is also a fantastic way. A leisurely stroll gives you more ample time to admire the blue-green lake surface echoing with the distant mountains, as well as the sunlight gently dancing on the water. Enjoy the soft breeze brushing your face, bringing a sense of relaxed slow living and a wonderful time filled with contentment!

● Songbai Natural Trail

The Songbai Natural Trail was an important ancient salt-carrying path before Sun Moon Lake was dammed. Near the lake, there is a sculpture symbolizing the salt porters. The trail entrance is located between Wenwu Temple and the Peacock Garden, with a length of about 600 meters. From the 835-meter-high winding path, you can reach scenic spots such as Wuling, Shuishe, Xuandong, and Dajianshan. There are also many broadleaf trees, ferns, and grasses.

● Shuiwa Head Natural Trail

Located between Dazhuhu and Sun Moon Village, the trail is about 500 meters long and built with elevated boardwalks. Along the way, you’ll pass through a bamboo forest of Phyllostachys edulis, with beautiful scenery and abundant native trees and ferns. There are several Sweetgum trees along the trail that bloom with white flowers in summer, creating an incredibly beautiful sight. Legend has it that this place was once known as “Toad Cave,” where after heavy rain, the path would be covered with toads, leading later generations to call it “Shuiwa (Water Frog) Head.” A bronze sculpture of “Frogs Stacked Like Pancakes” is placed by the lake, vividly illustrating the origin of the name and also serving as an indicator for water level changes.