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Planning Your Trip
Preparation Prior to Departure
Sun Moon Lake is situated in the middle of Taiwan, boasting the rich Thao and Bunun indigenous cultures, and a natural ecosystem.
Sun Moon Lake can be reached through highways and railways. You can take the Jiji train from Ershui Station in Changhua County to Checheng Station, and then take the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle to Sun Moon Lake. We recommend that folks who like to go on their own pace to rent a car in town and drive to Sun Moon Lake.
Currency
New Taiwan currency can be exchanged at the bank in Taoyuan Airport. Commonly used paper currencies are NT100, NT500 and NT1000. Commonly used coins are NT1, NT5, NT10 and NT50.
Power Plug
Common voltages are 110V or 220V. The plugs are usually 2 pins or 3 pins.
Must-have documents
You must have your passport to gain entry to Taiwan. Some countries, such as Japan, Korea and the US do not need a visa to enter Taiwan. Days of stay are 14 day, 30 days, etc.
Time Zone
Taiwan time zone is GMT+8
Travel Season
Light pink cherry blossoms can be seen all over the mountains in the spring; Firefly viewing activities are in the summer; Autumn is the most lively season in Sun Moon Lake because that’s when the Cross-Lake Swim Carnival and Biking Challenge Competition are held. In the winter the New Year’s Eve Fireworks and Sunrise at Mt. Jinlong end the year with a perfect note.
Tipping
Tips are neither expected nor required; some restaurants may add a 10% service charge to the bill.
No Smoking in Public Places
No smoking is allowed in public places in Taiwan. However, some public places or businesses have designated smoking zones for smokers.
Restricted Carry-on Items
Meat, food containing meat, fresh fruits and vegetables are not allowed to be brought into Taiwan. Travelers entering Taiwan may bring up to NT100,000 and USD $10,000 in currency.
Tax Refund
Merchandise purchased in Taiwan have a 5% tax built in the price already. Foreign travelers shopping in special stores that post tax refund signs, and make purchases more than NT2,000, may request store staff to issue a tax refund form on the same day of purchase.
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi routers can be rented at Taoyuan Airport in Taiwan. You can also go to the i-Taiwan website to apply, open an account, or open an account with your passport at the Visitor Center after you gain entry to Taiwan. Then you can have access to i-Taiwan’s free Wi-Fi service.
Useful Phone Numbers
Ambulance & Fire Brigade: 119
Police: 110
Emergency Assistance: 112
Country Calling Code: +886
Local Area Code: 03
Toll-free Tourist Hotline: +886-2-2717-3737
Police: 110
Emergency Assistance: 112
Country Calling Code: +886
Local Area Code: 03
Toll-free Tourist Hotline: +886-2-2717-3737
Visitor Center
Visitor Centers or stores with yellow signs have free tourism pamphlets in many languages for visitors to take. You can also ask the friendly staff at the visitor centers about fun places to go that only locals know about.
Annual Must-see Events
There are many wonderful activities to participate in throughout the year in Sun Moon Lake. Besides seasonal activities, such as seeing the sunrise, enjoying cherry blossoms in the spring and watching fireflies in the summer, visitors who love exercise must not miss the Cross-lake Swim Carnival and the Come!Bikeday Events. Both are action-packed fun activities!
Sun Moon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival
The annual Sun Moon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival is Taiwan’s biggest cherry blossom festival. There are 8 spots to enjoy cherry blossoms in the area: Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village, National Chi Nan University, Ita Thao Lakeside Trail, Ci En Pagoda Trail, Jinlongshan Trail, Shiangcha Lane and Youshui Lane in Yuchi Township, and Guangfu Lane in Xinyi Township. There are approximately 5,000 cherry blossom trees blooming, and they’re beautiful.
Activity time: around January - March
Activity time: around January - March
Sun Moon Lake Firefly-watching Activity
Each year from April to May, visitors can enjoy fireflies at Taomi, Lianhuachi, Shuishe, Toushe and Tannan. The species are Aquatica ficta, Luciola cerata and Luciola anceyi. During the day you may want to arrange a trip to visit the diverse attractions nearby, like exploring the fish and shrimp ecosystem, fruit picking, farms and ecology tour, DIY crafts, and indigenous tribe tour, etc. We recommend the tours promoted by local organizations, because they are led by local guides who would inform you about the natural ecosystem and cultural characteristics of Sun Moon Lake. We welcome you to Sun Moon Lake to enjoy the dreamy fireflies, star gazing and visit indigenous tribes!
Activity time: around April - May
Activity time: around April - May
Sun Moon Lake Swimming Carnival
The annual Sun Moon Lake Cross-Lake Swimming Carnival is the oldest on-going and largest event in the area. Since 1983, each year before and after the Mid Autumn Festival, swimmers from Taiwan and other parts of the world gather at Chaowu Wharf in Sun Moon Lake to participate in this event. Covering a distance of approximately 3,000 meters, this event was officially listed in the World’s Swimming Hall of Fame in 2002. It attracts thousands of swimming enthusiasts from all over the world to participate each year, and has become known as the “10,000 People Sun Moon Lake Swim Meet”. Together, the swimmers created a Sun Moon Lake cross-lake swimming feat.
All persons 10 years or older, Taiwanese or foreigners, (minors must be accompanied by persons in the participating organization who have lifesaving skills and who can be responsible for their safety during the entire journey), physically and mentally healthy and have long distance swimming ability can participate.
Activity time: around September - October
All persons 10 years or older, Taiwanese or foreigners, (minors must be accompanied by persons in the participating organization who have lifesaving skills and who can be responsible for their safety during the entire journey), physically and mentally healthy and have long distance swimming ability can participate.
Activity time: around September - October
Sun Moon Lake International Fireworks Festival
The annual fall event, Sun Moon Lake International Fireworks-Music and Come! Bikeday Festival, is coming up. Come to Sun Moon Lake with your family and friends at a cool autumn night to listen to awesome music and watch spectacular fireworks! There are lots of activities and sports in the day for you!
Activity time: around October - November
Activity time: around October - November
Sun Moon Lake Come!Bikeday Festival
In late autumn when the weather is cool and pleasant, it is also a good time for biking. Sun Moon Lake is especially beautiful with pleasant scenery everywhere. Ride your bike around the lake on Huanhu Road, which is slightly challenging at uneven spots on the road. You may also choose to ride leisurely on the Sun Moon Lake Bikeway, and enjoy the lake and cool breeze in the morning. It will be a pressure free bike tour.
Activity time: around November
Activity time: around November
Enjoy Dawn at Jinlong Mountain
Jinlong Mountain of Sun Moon Lake is also known as Chuei-Zih-Liao, while locally known as “Sian-Jha-Jiao”; it is located on a hill by County Road 131, where one may overlook the entire Yuchi basin, and even enjoy Hehuan Mountain Range and Sun Moon Lake from afar when the weather is in good conditions. Photographers passionate about taking photos of sceneries all know about the three main photographic holy lands in Taiwan where one may witness the magnificent sceneries of sunrise and sea of clouds, even though these are located at low altitudes: “Getou in the north, Wucheng in the central, Erliao in the south”, with “Wucheng in the central” meaning “Jinlong Mountain”. One may overlook Yuchi basin at Jinlong Mountain, and enjoy the overlapping mountains as well as the sea of clouds from afar, especially at the break of dawn, with golden rays sprinkling onto all places in the wood through branches of Calocedrus formosana, where the distant mountains appear to be painted using golden lines, while the wave-like sea of clouds filled with vitality tumble from Sun Moon Lake on the left towards Puli, where the constantly changing sceneries make all photographers capturing the images hold their breath in astonishment.