Introduction
Nantou County, Taiwan's only landlocked county, holds Sun Moon Lake — the island's largest body of water and a genuine highland retreat — plus some of the country's most respected high-mountain tea country.
Overview
Sun Moon Lake sits at 748 metres in the central mountains, its surface often mist-covered and its shores forested, named for its shape (one section round like the sun, the other crescent like the moon). The indigenous Thao people, one of Taiwan's smallest recognised indigenous groups, maintain a continuous cultural presence around the lake's shores, and Lalu Island — a small islet in the lake — carries particular spiritual significance for the Thao specifically. Beyond the lake itself, Nantou's mountain slopes, especially around the town of Lugu, produce some of Taiwan's most highly regarded high-mountain oolong tea, grown at an elevation and mist level that gives the leaves a genuinely distinct character from lowland tea.
Discover 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.
Ways to Experience This Destination
A 30-kilometre lakeside cycling path, boat tours to Lalu Island, and Wenwu Temple's lakefront views — Taiwan's largest body of water at 748 metres elevation.
A small, officially recognised indigenous people with a continuous spiritual connection to the lake and Lalu Island, maintained across generations.
Lugu township's oolong tea farms, among Taiwan's most respected, offering tastings directly from small family-run producers.
Nantou Travel Notes
- Reached from Taichung by bus, roughly ninety minutes — Taichung's THSR station is the practical connection point from elsewhere in Taiwan.
- The full 30-kilometre cycling path suits confident cyclists; shorter sections work well for a more casual ride.
- Lalu Island holds spiritual significance for the Thao people — most visitors view it from a boat tour rather than landing.
- A scooter or car adds flexibility for reaching Lugu's tea farms in the surrounding hills beyond the lake itself.
Frequently asked questions
This overview comes from Visaja's worldwide missions database (visaja.com), checked against official government sources; for binding answers, the mission itself always has the final word.