Nantou

A 30-kilometre dedicated cycling path circles the lake, regularly rated one of the world's most scenic bike routes and manageable in sections for visitors who don't want to ride the full loop. Boat tours cross the water to stop at Lalu Island and lakeside temples; a cable car connects the shore to the Formosa Aboriginal Culture Village, a theme park focused on Taiwan's indigenous cultures more broadly rather than the Thao specifically. Wenwu Temple, on the northern shore, is the lake's most photographed structure — a large, traditionally styled complex with giant lion-dog statues framing sweeping lake views.

The Thao are one of Taiwan's smallest officially recognised indigenous peoples, with a documented cultural and spiritual connection to Sun Moon Lake stretching back long before Han Chinese settlement of the area. Lalu Island, a small islet visible from most points on the lake, holds particular significance in Thao spiritual tradition; visitors typically view it from a boat tour rather than landing, respecting its cultural weight for the community that has maintained ties to it across generations.

Nantou's mountain slopes, particularly around Lugu township, are among Taiwan's most respected sources of high-mountain oolong — the elevation and persistent mist slow the leaves' growth in a way that concentrates flavour, producing tea genuinely distinct from lowland-grown varieties. Small family-run tea farms and processing operations across the region welcome visitors for tastings, often at prices well below what the same tea commands once exported.

Sun Moon Lake is reached from Taichung by bus, roughly ninety minutes, since neither THSR nor TRA runs directly to the lake itself — Taichung THSR station is the practical connection point from Taipei or further south. Once at the lake, the cycling path, boat shuttles and local buses cover getting around without needing a car, though a scooter or car adds flexibility for reaching Lugu's tea farms in the surrounding hills.