Before 1970, this site was a military police station. The name “Meihe” means “plum and water lily”, symbolizing the spirit of the military police. The Meihe Gardens, situated to the west of Shuishe Wharf, were constructed after the 921 Earthquake of 1999. Tourists can now freely visit this new landmark.
In the 1970s, President Chiang Kai-shek often vacationed at the Hanbi Building. This guard station, located at a higher elevation, served as a good controller for cars and pedestrians, as well as for the boats that went by. Now it has become the best viewing garden of Sun Moon Lake. Its refurbishment and opening to the public reflect Taiwan's overall democratization.
The length of this trail is about 1.5 kilometers and all of the steps are made of red bricks. Muller's Barbet and many other birds can be seen along this trail in the morning. Walking down to the pier, you will find the enchanting scenery of the Lalu Island in the middle of the lake and the Cih-en Pagoda on a distant mountain.
In 1916, A Japanese gentleman built a luxury villa beside Sun Moon Lake, and named it the Hanbi Building. The following year the area was struck by an earthquake, and many houses were damaged. However, the Hanbi Building was unharmed. Consequently, it gained a good reputation, and before long it became a favorite lodging for important people who came for vacations at the lake.
Later on, the lake was dammed for a hydroelectric power project and the water rose, so the Hanbi Building had to be relocated. But the man who built it did not have enough funds, so the government took over the project and built a two-story guest house out of cypress wood. When the Japanese crown prince visited the lake in 1923, the government built eight more VIP units onto the building to accommodate him. Two additional VIP units were constructed in 1934 for a visit by the Japanese emperor's brother. This added to the reputation of the Hanbi Building.
After Taiwan's retrocession to China in 1945, the Hanbi Building was where Chiang Kai-shek stayed whenever he came to the lake to relax or think about national affairs. It was also used as a guest house for foreign dignitaries. The villa was expanded and a Christian church was built for the president to worship in. The old Hanbi Building is gone now, but the cultural aura of its past remains.