Day 3
On our third and last day in Sun Moon Lake, we just can’t help ourselves and fall in love in this awesome fantasy island. Not only that you will be enchanted by the lovely and serene surroundings, the culture ,its people (Thao- aborigines of Sun Moon Lake) and their traditions will surely capture your heart and yearn to explore more about the mystery of these indigenous people.
Thao of Sun Moon Lake
According to the legend, a long time ago, a group of Thao hunters chased a rare and beautiful white deer for days, going up river valleys and accross mountain ridges. Finally they entered the mountains of a place called Shuishalian and settled the entire tribe in this awesome and amazing place.
During the Qing Dynasty, the original Thao settlers were joined by large numbers of Han Chinese and Pingpu indigenous people. Because of Sun Moon Lake’s rich ecology, Thao people started to fish, hunt, and cultivate agricultural products and also further developed their fishing skills.
In spite of the deep assimilation with Han Chinese, Thao tribe still maintains its traditional culture. Their ‘spirit basket’ , in which the articles of clothing belonging to the ancestors are kept and worshipped, still stands at the heart of Thao religious beliefs. All Thao religious rituals and ceremonies include prayers to the ancestors.
Pestle music is performed by a number of people wielding wooded pestles of varying lengths, involving rhythmic pounding of pestles against stone slabs. Pestle music has been an important feature of the Thao culture of Sun Moon Lake. The echoing pestle pounding and dancing have become the most well-known attraction at Sun Moon Lake.
Thao’s traditional dances, musical performances and pestle pounding rhythmic music.
Annual Happy Gatherings
The event, New Dawn at Sun Moon Lake– First Dawn from Jinlong Mountain, announces the arrival of the New Year. At night, there is music played with romantic sparkling stars in the sky. Visitors all leave before dawn in order to witness the magnificent sunset.
During the cherry blossom season in February, visitors are invited to take part in the Sun Moon Lake Marathon to experience being surrounded by breath-taking landscape and colorful dancing cherry in the air.
When it comes to fall in September, it’s the perfect time to visit for the Annual Sun Moon Lake Swimming Carnival. Although swimming in the lake is not allowed, only during this event that they let the visitors join and swim in this three kilometers, (3km )swimming route from Chaowu Pier to Yidashao Pier. There are around 25,000 people who signs up to this activity every year.
Later in the year, the Sun Moon Lake International Fireworks Festival held from October to November invites many domestic and foreign music performers to present the stunning musical performances.
After the International Fireworks Festival, Sun Moon Lake’s annual grant event-Sun Moon Lake Come! Bikeday Classic Ride also provide every visitor a must-not-miss chance to experience the marvelous scenery along Sun Moon Lake through riding the bike. This cycling tour also offers other activities which combine local tours and aerobatic demonstration.
Discovering Sun Moon Lake’s Inexhaustible Beauties
You can discover more of Sun Moon Lake’s beauty and immersed yourself by it’s industrial culture by going through various district administration and visitor’s centers.
- Xiangshan Visitors Center-this center was designed with wood-patterned exteriors and wings that stretch like human arms embracing the earth. Visitors are able to go up to the roof to enjoy the scenery and experience the beauty from the building and nature. There is a multi-media showroom, exhibition hall, and outdoor space, as well as cafe shops (Hui Sun), and grasslands where many people come for wedding photos.
- Ita Thao Administration & Visitors Center– this is situated next to the Ita Thao Pier, Ita Thao Visitors Center’s unique ship-like building provides a ticket-selling center, a waiting room, and emergency medical service on the first floor. A landscape restaurant, Yihushanshui Tea Shop, located on the second floor, is the ideal place to bathe in the splendid view.
- Checheng Administration & Visitors Center-situated next to Checheng Railway Square, visitors can obtain more in-depth information about the timber industry through publications and the tour guide’s explanation at Checheng Visitor Center.
- Puli Administration & Visitors Center-visitors can find Puli Administration & Visitors Center if they exit from Ailan Interchange on National Freeway 6. Tourist information, food, accommodation, and souvenirs are provided here before visitors arrive at Sun Moon Lake or Qingjing Farm.
Sun Moon Lake’s tourism industry is also enhanced by numerous growth of different industries such as :
- Black Tea – With similar latitude and growing conditions to India’s Assam tea farms,Yuchi has become the main base for the cultivation of Assam tea during the period of Japanese colonization. Taiwan Tea No. 7, Taiwan Tea No. 8, and Taiwan Tea No. 18 are particularly favored.
- Timber Industry – Checheng used to be the main place for timber output. From the tour of Checheng Logging Exhibition Hall, established by Checheng Timber Factory, visitors can witness the historical traces of the timber industry. A timber-storing pool is turned into an ecological pool and the shopping center sells a variety of products made with the theme of timber
- Pottery -Yuchi,Jiji,and Shuili are all well-known for their pottery and for the high-quality clay available in early years. Shuili’s Snake Kiln, Jiji’s Muzih Kiln, Tianxing Kiln, Sheshui Kiln, and Cinshou Kiln are turned into leisure pottery theme parks providing pottery tours and pottery DIY activities.
- Agriculture – Surrounded by Puli the basin group with its abundant water resources, the particular natural conditions in the Sun Moon Lake area have given it numerous unique local products, such as water oats, mushrooms, passion fruits, roses, and orchids.
- Handicrafts – Owls are considered sacred birds to the Thao aboriginal people. Visitors can find a lot of handicrafts of owls in the souvenir shops in the Sun Moon Lake area. You can also find the Bunun(another aboriginal tribe living on high mountains) rattan products and woven clothes for hunting and daily use. The stone sculpture and wood sculpture both apply the natural materials obtained from Zhuoshui River.
ECOLOGICAL TOURS
The ‘Valley Firefly Appreciation’ activity is held every year with a variety of ecological tours in many areas, including Tao-Mi village in Puli Township, Shuishe area in Sun Moon Lake, and Tan-nan area in Sinyi Township. Midsummer is the ideal season to linger for colorful butterflies. Tao-Mi village and Bamboo Rock Garden Ecological Research both provide series of butterfly-viewing packages led by tour guides to experience the secret and pleasure of nature activities in Sun Moon Lake.
Sun Moon Lake Cable Car Ride- Ropeway
Your tour in Sun Moon Lake will be incomplete if you miss this 3 stars lake view ride recommended by Michelin. The Ropeway incorporates water, land and air and merges two tourist attractions in Taiwan , the Sun Moon Lake and Formosa Aboriginal Culture Village. The Sun Moon Lake Station lies to the southeast of Sun Moon Lake, the north of Ita Thao community, and west of Youth Activity Center.
See below link for the website of Sun Moon Lake ‘s tourist attractions information and latest updates of activities for this year.
https://www.sunmoonlake.gov.tw/English/#1
For more videos of our trip in Sun Moon Lake for days 1 to 3 , please click on my youtube channel below:
IMPORTANT TOURIST INFO NUMBERS
- Tourism Bureau, MOTC – Tel: 02-23491500, 24-hr Toll free Travel Information Hotline:0800-011765 ; http://www.taiwan.net.tw
- Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Administration – Tel: 049-2855668; http://www.sunmoonlake.gov.tw
- Xiangshan Visitors Center – 24-hr Toll Free Travel Info Hotline:0800-855595 :Tel:049-2341256
- Ita Thao Administration & Visitors Center – Tel : 049-2850289
- Checheng Administration & Visitors Center – Tel: 049-2774981
- Puli Administration & Visitors Center – Tel: 049-2916 060
- Cable Car (Ropeway) Station Visitors Center,Sun Moon Lake – Tel: 049-2850666
- Jiji Visitors Center – Tel: 049-2764265
References & Some Photo Excerpts: Tourism Bureau, MOTC , Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Administration Ad Published Oct.2018.
COVID-19 NOTE: Our trip in Taiwan were pre pandemic days and all information provided in this article is for reference only . Always check the government websites and airline materials before booking or traveling to your country of destination regarding their Covid-19 travel guides and protocols.
TravelUnnies 