Sun Moon Lake (日月潭)
Sun Moon Lake (日月潭) is located in the mountains of Yuchi Township, Nantou County (南投). It is the second-largest lake in Taiwan and the largest semi-natural lake and power generation reservoir. Covering an area of 17 km2, it has a maximum depth of 30m and a maximum width of 4km.
The name "Sun Moon Lake" was first mentioned in 1821 in the ''Haihai Diary'' by Cao Shigui. In English literature, it was known as "Lake Candidius." It was officially named in 1873 by missionaries who came to Sun Moon Lake to teach the Thao people. The name was inspired by the beauty of the area, with the eastern part resembling the sun and the western part resembling the moon. In 1970, Sun Moon Lake was designated as one of the eight scenic spots in Taiwan, and in 2010, the Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area was established.
The lake is a significant center of aboriginal life in Taiwan, and it is home to a small island called Lalu. Lalu Island is an ancient settlement of the Thao tribe. Formerly known as "Guanghua Island," a matchmaker pavilion was established there in 1978 where visitors could worship the Matchmaker God and make marriage requests. However, after an earthquake in 1999, the Matchmaker God was relocated to Longfong Temple. As a gesture of respect to the Aboriginal people, the island's name was changed to "Lalu Island."
Swimming in the lake is generally not allowed except during the Sun Moon Lake Mass Swim event in September. To participate in the swim, participants must form a group of three people and pay a registration fee of 1000 NTD per person. The competition offers distances of 3km and 5km, and the event lasts for a few hours.
Visitors to Sun Moon Lake can also explore Ita Thao, a tourist village located on the southeast shore. Ita Thao is the endpoint of the Sun Moon Lake Mass Swim and features numerous food stalls and a night market. Some popular aboriginal dishes in this area include boar meat (山豬肉), sticky rice in bamboo tubes (竹筒飯), and millet wine (小米酒).
See also: Sun Moon Lake
Shuishe Dam (水社壩)
Shuishe Dam (水社壩) is another attraction in the area. Formerly known as "Shuishe zhuang," it was a street village from the end of the Qing Dynasty to the beginning of the Japanese occupation. Shuishe offers many restaurants and resorts, as well as bike and scooter rentals and bus services for exploring Sun Moon Lake.
Nine Frog Stack (九蛙疊像)
The Nine Frog Stack (九蛙疊像) at Sun Moon Lake serves as an indicator of water levels. However, it does not necessarily indicate drought conditions. The water in the lake is used for electricity generation, stored in lower pools, and then pumped back into the lake, causing the water level to fluctuate by as much as 2 meters.
Wenwu Temple (文武廟)
Wenwu Temple (文武廟) is a significant temple in the Sun Moon Lake area. Initially, there were two temples near the lake, but in 1919, Japanese colonizers decided to construct a hydroelectric power project, which raised the water level. The two temples were replaced and combined into one in 1938. The temple was rebuilt and expanded in 1969. It consists of three main halls dedicated to different gods, with two lions guarding the entrance. Visitors can climb to the top of the temple, which offers a view of the lake. The climb includes 366 steps, symbolizing the days in a year.
Longfeng Temple (龍鳳宮月老廟)
Longfeng Temple (龍鳳宮月老廟) is located on a hill and was originally built in Shuishe but was relocated to its current location in 1934. "Long" means dragon, and "feng" means phoenix. The Yue Lao Shrine was also brought to Longfeng Temple from Lalu Island after being damaged in an earthquake.
Ci'en Pagoda (慈恩塔)
Ci'en Pagoda (慈恩塔) is a Chinese-style tower built in 1971 on Sabahan Mountain. It was constructed by Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek in honor of his mother. The tower stands at an elevation of 954 meters above sea level and is 46 meters tall. The top of the tower is exactly 1000 meters above sea level, offering a panoramic view of Sun Moon Lake. To reach the pagoda, visitors need to climb a 570-meter-long trail from the parking lot, which can be tiring, especially in hot weather. However, the view of the lake from the tower is truly worth it.
Madame Wang Tai Memorial Hall
The Madame Wang Tai Memorial Hall features Mr. Chiang Kai-shek's lounge with portraits and furniture on its first floor. Additionally, every April and May, Ci'en Pagoda becomes a good place to see fireflies. Three species of fireflies found at Sun Moon Lake are active during the daytime.
Xuan Zang Memorial Hall (玄奘大師紀念館)
Xuan Zang Memorial Hall (玄奘大師紀念館) was built in 1965 by the Nantou County Government. Xuanzang (602-664) was a Buddhist monk who traveled to India for 17 years.
The Legend of Sun Moon lake
Long ago, in the mountains of Nantou, there was a tribe called Shao. The people primarily cultivated corn, rice, and taro on their farms, and they relied on fishing and hunting for food. One day, a loud "boom" sound was heard, and the land began to shake. The sun disappeared, causing distress and tears among the people. Without sunlight, they could do nothing but seek refuge in darkness. At night, when the moon rose, they could see again and resume their farming activities. However, another sound soon followed, almost destroying their houses. The moon vanished, and the people began crying once more.
From that time on, the sky had no sun or moon. Darkness covered the entire world. Plants withered, fish retreated to deep waters, flowers ceased to bloom, and animals became lifeless. People wondered how they could survive without sunlight. Among the village's residents were a young couple named Da Jian Ge and Shui She Jie. They contemplated a plan to bring back the sun and moon, realizing that without them, everyone would perish.
The next day, they set out into the forest, determined to find the sun and moon. They climbed mountains, crossed rivers, and ventured through forests but could not find any sunlight. After a long journey, they reached the mountaintop, where they saw a faint light shimmering on the surface of a lake. They ran toward the lake and discovered two dragons playing with the sun and moon. The couple cried when they realized who had stolen them and that the dragons were afraid to return them.
Feeling defeated, they sat on a rock, and suddenly, white smoke began to rise from beneath it. They moved the rock aside and discovered a long, narrow pathway. Curiosity piqued, they entered, and once the smoke cleared, they encountered an old woman cooking in her kitchen. The woman was astonished to see other people and shared her story. She revealed that the dragons had brought her there long ago and held her captive, forcing her to cook meals for them.
The young couple informed her about the dragons' theft of the sun andmoon. The old woman advised them that dragons feared golden scissors and an ax hidden beneath Ali Mountain (Alishan). If they were to throw these objects into the lake, the dragons would be slain, and they could retrieve the sun and moon.
The couple journeyed toward the mountain and diligently dug for the scissors and ax day and night until they unearthed them. Grasping the weapons, they hurried back to the lake. Upon killing the dragons, their blood stained the lake red, and the sun and moon floated on the water's surface. The couple rescued the old woman and contemplated how to return the sun and moon to the sky.
The old woman informed them that if they were to consume the dragon's eyeballs, they would grow tall and strong enough to accomplish the task. Without hesitation, the couple dove into the lake, found the dragon's eyes, and consumed them. As a result, they grew to towering heights. Emerging from the water, they were as tall as mountains. Hand in hand, they lifted the sun and gently placed it in the sky. Despite their efforts, the sun fell back down. They attempted several times but could not make it stay. At last, the old woman suggested using palm trees to prop up the sun and moon.
Each of them seized a tree, hoisted the sun, and steadfastly held it high. Gradually, the sun rose higher and higher. After a full day of exertion, it remained in place, restoring its normal function. They repeated the process with the moon, illuminating the world once again. Plants began to flourish, and people regained their smiles.
Fearful that the dragons might return, the couple stood beside the lake, serving as guardians. Over time, their bodies transformed into mountains: DaJia Shan and ShuiShe Shan. The lake came to be known as SunMoon Lake. As an expression of gratitude, the people dedicated a dance to commemorate the brave actions of the couple. During the dance, participants toss colorful balls into the air and attempt to catch them with bamboo sticks, symbolizing the couple's heroic deeds.
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