Accessible One-Day Tour on the Sun Moon Lake Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Route
One-day tourAccessible Travel
Tour Highlights
Take an accessible one-day trip to Sun Moon Lake! Board the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle on the Sun Moon Lake Route (confirm accessible departures in advance) from Taichung and head to the Xiangshan Visitor Center, a architecturally distinctive landmark with comprehensive accessible facilities and services. Don't miss the accessible pathway behind the visitor center, which leads to the Xiangshan Overlook Platform and sweeping views of the lake and surrounding mountains.
The Xiangshan Bikeway is largely flat, making it ideal for wheelchair users to leisurely take in the beautiful lakeside scenery. On the return journey, hop back on the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle, or, for those with a bit more energy, make your way to the Shuishe commercial district and pier. There you can browse Sun Moon Lake's many distinctive shops, soak in the atmosphere right at the water's edge, or board an electric boat to Ita Thao Pier (confirm accessible sailings in advance) to experience Indigenous culture and local specialty foods. Then it's back on the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle to Taichung, with wonderful memories of Sun Moon Lake to take home.
Xiangshan Visitor Center is both for tourism and administration use. The uniquely designed building has wood-patterned exteriors and wings that stretch like human arms embracing the earth. In addition, the two giant canopy structures, 34 meters long and 8 meters tall each, allow people to enjoy beautiful views of Sun Moon Lake from the top.
The bikeway used to be ranked as one of the top 10 bikeways around the world by CNNgo. Visitors can enjoy the lake scenery, Thao indigenous tribe's culture, and local ecology. On the way to Xiangshan Visitor Center, you will see the Yongjie Tongxin Bridge. With the white bridge pier and red hearts above, it is a great place for couples to take pictures.
Shuishe shopping area has lots of hotels and shops. Tourists can easily fulfill their lodging and shopping needs here. This area is also a convenient place which is always full of visitors during weekends.
Shuishe Pier is not to be missed if you visit Sun Moon Lake. It is close to the lake area's transport hub, Zhongxing Parking Lot, and hotel-filled Shuishe Shopping District, where activities and performances take place often. It is also linked to Shuishe Waterfront Hiking Trail and Hanbi Hiking Trail. Visitors can relax here and immerse themselves in lake and mountain scenery.
Ita Thao Pier is an important yacht port and a must-visit for those who love mountain and lake scenery. Many more people are visiting the pier as the area's tourism sector grows. The pier and its square were refurbished after a major earthquake. The octagonal pavilion and the boat-shaped Ita Thao Visitor Center were newly built. In recent years, most of Sun Moon Lake's key events are held here, such as the fireworks festival and the swimming contest. Each of them alone can draw ten thousand visitors.
Ita Thao is called Barawbaw in Thao language. The Han people call it North Cave. It was named Te Hua village after the restoration of Taiwan, and is under the administration of Yuchi.
Barawbaw is the last residence of the Thao people at Sun Moon Lake. On account of the continuous stream of tourists, many Han people moved here to go into trade. Therefore, Ita Thao becomes the most populous area around the Sun Moon Lake. There are stores, restaurants, and hotels in the village. Also the Thao people establishes the "Thao Cultural Village" for tourists to appreciate the traditional culture, songs, and dancing of the Thao tribe.
