Nantou in a Day: Sun Moon Lake & Chung Tai Chan Monastery Adventure

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by Isaac

March 29, 2024 · 1 min read

Nantou 1 Day Itinerary

Embark on a tranquil journey through Nantou with a one-day itinerary that promises to enchant and inspire. Begin your day at the breathtaking Sun Moon Lake, where you'll spend the day immersed in the natural beauty and cultural significance of Taiwan's largest body of water. Take in the serene atmosphere, enjoy a boat ride, or cycle around the lake to capture panoramic views. After a day at the lake, transition to a spiritual retreat at the Chung Tai Chan Monastery. Spend an hour marveling at the temple's masterful architecture and peaceful surroundings. This itinerary offers a perfect blend of natural wonder and architectural grandeur, all within the span of a day, making it an ideal escape for those seeking a quick yet fulfilling getaway.

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Fleur De Chine Hotel
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Puli Ease Hotel
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Itinerary at a Glance
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Day 1: Serenity and Spirituality in Nantou

1

Sun Moon Lake

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Embarking on our Nantou journey, the first stop is the enchanting Sun Moon Lake. Nestled in Yuchi Township, this natural marvel is a symphony of crystal-clear waters and verdant mountains. Visitors can immerse themselves in the tranquility of the lake by taking a leisurely yacht cruise, offering a unique perspective of the 'Pearl Island'—a gem that divides the lake into its sun and moon-shaped halves. For the more adventurous, the Sun Moon Lake cable car provides a bird's-eye view of the stunning landscape, while the world-renowned cycling path offers a chance to pedal through the scenic beauty at your own pace. In spring, the lakeside is a riot of color with cherry blossoms in full bloom. Whether you're seeking a romantic getaway or a family excursion, Sun Moon Lake's blend of natural beauty and recreational activities makes it an unmissable destination.

Attraction Info

  • Sun Moon Lake, Yuchi Township, Nantou County, Taiwan 555
  • Suggested tour duration: 1-2 days
  • Open 24 hours

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2

Chung Tai Chan Monastery

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Continuing our spiritual sojourn, we arrive at the Chung Tai Chan Monastery, an architectural masterpiece in Puli Township. Conceived by architect Li Zuyuan, the monastery's stone construction stands as a testament to the steadfastness of Buddhist practice. Its silhouette, reminiscent of a meditating practitioner or a poised jet, encapsulates the essence of Zen Buddhism's direct path to enlightenment. Inside, the temple's artistry shines through in the crystal-carved glass of the patriarch Jialan Hall and the meticulously sculpted figures of the Four Heavenly Kings. The absence of incense burning creates a unique, smoke-free atmosphere, allowing the serene environment to enhance contemplation and reflection. A visit to Chung Tai Chan Monastery is not just a feast for the eyes but also a balm for the soul, offering a fresh perspective on Buddhist architecture and tradition.

Attraction Info

  • No. 2號, Zhongtai Rd, Puli Township, Nantou County, Taiwan 545
  • Suggested tour duration: 1-2 hour
  • Open from 8:00am-5:00pm

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Top Things to Do in Nantou-2024

TOP 1
Sun Moon Lake
Sun Moon Lake
4.7/5 · 1,520 review
taCommentInfo-imageBased on 2,659 review
Highlights:

• Sun Moon Lake is surrounded by mountains and lush forests. The lake is crystal clear, with visibility reaching over 10 meters.

• There are many ways to visit Sun Moon Lake. Taking a yacht around the lake, the Sun Moon Lake cable car, the Sun Moon Lake bicycle path around the lake, and the lake trail are all good options.

• Every spring, the cherry blossoms along the road are in full bloom, presenting a colorful scene

△ Sun Moon Lake is a vast lake, and the peaks reflected in the lake look like a beautiful scene in a painting. There is a small island in the pond, which looks like a bead floating on the water from a distance, so it is called "Pearl Island" and is now also called Lalu Island. With this island as the boundary, the northern half of the lake is round like the sun, and the southern half of the lake is curved like a crescent moon. This is where the name Sun Moon Lake comes from.

△ The Sun Moon Lake Lake Route has been hailed by CNN as one of the most beautiful bicycle lanes in the world. Whether you are traveling with friends, a couple on a date, or a family trip, you must ride a bicycle when visiting Sun Moon Lake and enjoy the freedom and comfort of the lake.

△ Enjoy the entire lake tour to appreciate the scenery of Sun Moon Lake and the mountains, with the captain’s warm service and on-board guided tour. Along the way, you can overlook Lalu Island, Sun Moon Resort, Lalu Island, Ci'en Pagoda, Xuanzang Temple, Xuanguang Temple, water boat house, four-handed hanging net, cable car station, Sun Moon Lake outlet, and Wenwu Temple.

△ Sun Moon Lake Cable Car - overlooking the 360-degree view of the lake and mountains of Sun Moon Lake. If there is enough water, you may also have the opportunity to see the foggy and fairyland-like dreamy scenery.

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TOP 2
Qingjing Farm
Qingjing Farm
4.6/5 · 649 review
taCommentInfo-imageBased on 1,064 review
Highlights:

·Get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and enter the Qingjing Farm, located at an altitude of 1,600~2,100 meters above sea level, where the four seasons present a variety of flavors.

·You can roll, play, and chase in the green grass, and you can't miss one of the farm's activities: the sheep show.

·Take a stroll along the high-altitude viewing trail and enjoy the beautiful view of the central peaks.


△ Qingjing Farm is situated between the mountains, all the way up the hill from Puli, and the scenery is spread out on both sides of the road leading to the Hohhuan Mountain. Inside the farm, there are several zones including sheep herding zone, cattle herding zone, and high-cooling vegetable and fruit zone, each with its own distinctive architecture, which makes you feel like you are in Europe.


△ Comfortable and beautiful green grassland, you can lie on the grass and look at the blue sky, adults and children can play in the large grassland, chasing the passionate sun. The daily scheduled animal show allows you to have further contact with the animals, enjoy the nourishment given to your soul by the mountains, the sky and the grass on the green grassland, and leave behind wonderful memories.


△ The Qingjing Sky Trail is 1.68 kilometers long, and it is a gentle downhill walk from north to south, which is considered to be a trail for the whole family. There are nine trails planned for the whole area of Qingjing Farm, but the Qingjing Sky Trail has the most expansive view.

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TOP 3
Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village
Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village
4.7/5 · 231 review
taCommentInfo-imageBased on 599 review
Highlights:
The Nine Nationalities Cultural Village is a theme park with the nine major ethnic groups in Taiwan, including the Minority Cultural Area, the Happy World and the European Garden. The high point of the scenic spot is the Guanshan Building in the back mountain, and you can take the cable car to the Sun Moon Lake and the happy world under the mountain. If the weather is fine, sitting in the cable car can overlook the panoramic view of the Cultural Village and the lakes and mountains of Sun Moon Lake, with an excellent viewing angle. Minority cultural areas are mainly for watching performances, tribal landscapes and participating in DIY experience activities. There are tribal buildings built in 1:1 imitation of real houses of various ethnic groups, singing and dancing performances showing the primitive and rough charm of ethnic minorities, and tourists can also experience traditional activities such as archery, blowing arrows, pounding mochi, weaving cloth, and kneading pottery. Original style. The amusement facilities in Happy World are very rich - thrilling UFO free fall, exciting water roller coaster, interesting gold mine canoe adventure, interstellar travel, Jurassic adventure, more suitable for children's music carriage, hot air balloon, old man Leisure projects such as cars, jumping frogs, etc. The European Garden is built in the style of the European court. It consists of Baroque buildings and beautiful geometric flower gardens. The majestic Palace, the Roman fountain in the center of the garden and the Gothic bell tower in the corner are all popular places to take pictures. The new station on the west side of the garden can take a steam train, the second largest railway branch line in Nantou County, which will take you through caves, iron bridges, across the colorful Vienna Forest, and tour the whole garden in a romantic and leisurely way. In addition to the themed restaurants such as Li Palace, Maya Restaurant, and Gold Mine Restaurant in the scenic area, there are also traditional ethnic minority foods such as bamboo rice and Bunun barbecue next to the Shiyin Theater. Each tribe will have some specialty shops, and tourists can buy some handicrafts as companions. The recommended gifts include handmade bracelets, necklaces and ornaments from the Paiwan Glass Bead Workshop; millet wine and millet snacks from the Bunun Millet Wine Story House, pottery and wood carvings from the Rukai Haocha Store, and the Atayal Tai The price of hand-made cloth in Luge Yifang is mostly between NT$100-300. The visitor service center is on the left side of the gate parking lot. There are coin-operated lockers for luggage storage, as well as baby strollers and wheelchairs.
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TOP 4
Qingjing Farm
Qingjing Farm
4.6/5 · 272 review
Highlights:
Qingqing Grassland is a very popular scenic spot in Cingjing Farm. It is 1,800 meters above sea level and is a rare high-altitude grassland in the world. The stretches of green grassland, where cattle and sheep are shuttled from time to time, and the misty mountains in the distance, make people intoxicated by the beauty of nature. When you come to Qingqing Grassland, you can interact closely with the sheep, feeding, taking photos, and petting the lovely sheep.
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TOP 5
Sun Moon Lake Ropeway Station
Sun Moon Lake Ropeway Station
4.7/5 · 86 review
Highlights:
"Sun Moon Lake Cable Car is a cable car system in Yuchi Township, Nantou County, Taiwan, with a total cost of NT$1 billion. The whole line is invested and constructed by the Jiu Aboriginal Culture Village in the BOO (Build-Operate-Own, private planning, construction and operation) model. The cable car system started operation on December 28, 2009. The route runs from the front of the Sun Moon Lake Youth Activity Center of the National Salvation Mission to the Guanshan Building of the Jiu Aboriginal Culture Village, with a total length of 1.877 kilometers and only 2 stops. On the way of the cable car, you can overlook the famous Sun Moon Lake. The view and the Puli Basin."
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* All user reviews in this article have been translated by machine.

* The information above is subject to change at any time. For the latest information, please check the websites of hotels and attractions.

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Nantou 1 Day Itinerary