September 21, 1999, the Sun Moon Lake area was struck by a devastating earthquake. That same year, President Lee Teng-hui visited the lake area to inspect the damage. He instructed that Sun Moon Lake and the surrounding tourism sites be integrated and upgraded to a national scenic area in a manner fully protecting the rights and interests of the people. On January 20, 2000, the Executive Yuan approved the plan and on January 24 that year the Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Administration was formally established under the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC). Planning and reconstruction work also began at this time.
The administrative scope of Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area is centered on Sun Moon Lake and extends north to the urban planning district of Yuchih Township, east to the ridge of Shueishe Mountain, and South to the border of Yuchih Township and Shueili Township, covering a total area of about 9,000 hectares. It also encompasses the original Sun Moon Lake Scenic Area, Toushe, Checheng, Shueishe Mountain, Jiji Mountain, and the Shueili River.
Future development at Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area will focus on lake resources and Thao culture. Water and land activities will be integrated to provide a high-quality and diverse holiday and recreation experience. Development themes will include mountain lake vacation experiences, cultural preservation and sustainable development, hydropower tours, diversified eco education opportunities, lake and river activities, mountain activities, walking, hiking, local industry activities, evening performances, theme halls, theme parks, and integrated information services. The integration of recreation resources will support the diverse and long-term development of tourism activities at Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area. The Scenic Area Administration also aims to functionally improve the surrounding recreational services to seize new opportunities and create a new image of Sun Moon Lake.
1. Provincial Scenic Area:
Administration commissioned to the Nantou County Government
The Statute for the Development of Tourism was promulgated in 1969. In 1970, the Taiwan Provincial Government announced the establishment of a "provincial scenic area" at Sun Moon Lake (at the time, Taiwan did not have a scenic area grading system and provincial and county scenic areas were simply announced). However, the provincial government did not specify the administrative scope and administrative unit for the scenic area. Administration of the provincial scenic area was therefore commissioned to the Nantou County Government.
2. National Scenic Area:
Administration commission to the Nantou County Government
The "Regulations for the Administration of Scenic Areas" were promulgated in 1979 and revised in 1988. The regulations stipulate three categories of designated scenic area—national, provincial (city), and county (city)—as well as separate assessment standards for each. In 1989 and 1990, the Tourism Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) formulated a grading assessment system for national scenic areas. At that time, Sun Moon Lake received a grading score high enough to rank it as a national scenic area. However, since Sun Moon Lake was already designated as a "provincial scenic area" and administered by a designated agency under the Nantou County Government, the original "provincial" designation was provisionally retained. In 1992, the Taiwan Provincial Government announced that Sun Moon Lake was a "provincial scenic area" and continued to commission administration to the Nantou County Government.
3. National Scenic Area:
Administered by the Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Administration, Tourism Bureau, MOTC
Reconstruction work was urgently needed in the Sun Moon Lake area after the devastating earthquake on September 21, 1999. The MOTC therefore made relevant arrangements and on December 31, 1999, announced the creation of Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area. On January 24, 2000, the Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Administration was established under the Tourism Bureau, MOTC to administer the new scenic area.
