My second day in Taiwan, after The first day of Taipei exploration, I would spend my day trip to one the landmark of Taiwan where the nature lover cannot miss, Sun Moon Lake. 🛥️

Sun Moon Lake is located in Nantou county, central Taiwan, 250 km from Taipei. But the travelling in Taiwan is one of the best territory in the world, I could easily make one day trip from Taipei to Sun Moon Lake by catching High-Speed Railways (HSR) from Taipei to Taichung (1 hour and 15 minutes). Then, ride Nantou bus from Taichung HSR station to Sun Moon Lake (1 hour).

HSR train tickets could be purchased online up to 30 days before travelling date by this official website : https://en.thsrc.com.tw. Early-bird booking could get discount up to 35% (Regular Ticket Fare from Taipei to Taichung was 700 TWD/trip or 23 USD, updated December 2023). However, the online ticket was still unable to use to board the train. The passenger must exchange it to paper ticket at ticket vending machine or ticketing counter by using booking confirmation number and passport number. For this one day trip, I selected the morning train from Taipei to Taichung (Train No. 1505 : 07.36AM – 08.42AM) and same day evening train from Taichung to Taipei (Train No.846 : 6.36PM – 7.39PM).

The automatic ticket vending machines. Passenger can get paper ticket by using booking number and passport number from online ticket here

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Paper ticket to enter the platform and board the high-speed train

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My day was started since I woke up at 6AM to take shower and left the hotel to Taipei HSR station which is connected to MRT – Taipei Main Station. I arrived there at 7AM, about half an hour before departure what had enough time to grab some snack for breakfast. 🍟🥤At 7.25AM, I walked to the platform to board the train and it departed on-time.

The entrance to the platform

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Passenger can see the platform of the train from the screens

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The high-speed train is approaching the platform 🚅

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Inside the train – Comfy ! 😄

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An hour on the train, I could enjoy the countryside view of Taiwan. Not for long, the train was arrived Taichung HSR station right on-time. After disembarking, I aimed to Exit No.5 at ground floor to find Nantou Bus Ticketing Counter. The ticketing staff did offer me the package for Sun Moon Lake Trip (Round trip bus from/to Taichung HSR station, Sun Moon Lake Boat, Sun Moon Lake Cable Car and Round The Lake Bus) at 870 TWD/person (29 USD). It was cheaper than buying everything as individual and this package was matched with my preference and time. I had no hesitation to tke this package. But they could accept Cash payment only, please prepare enough cash in advance. For more information and other package, please visit this official website : https://www.sunmoonlaketrip.net/en/package.aspx

Note : Please check the bus schedule between Taichung HSR station and Sun Moon Lake with ticketing staff carefully for one day trip traveller. Because we have to plan and spare the travelling time to catch the train back to Taipei.

Taichung HSR station – Just use Exit No.5 to go to Sun Moon Lake Bus Ticketing Counter

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Sun Moon Lake Bus Ticketing Counter – I could buy the package here

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This package was 870 TWD 😙

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The Bus from Taichung HSR station to Sun Moon Lake – Nantou Bus 🚌

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The seats on Nantou Bus

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The Sun Moon Lake Tickets Package with Various Activities (Updated : December 2023)
https://www.sunmoonlaketrip.net/en/package.aspx

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After I got the tickets (Easy Card, Boat Ticket and Cable Car Vouchers), I just went outside the building to queue to board the bus. The bus was arrived and departed from Taichung HSR station about 9.30AM. It took about an hour to reach Sun Moon Lake Bus Stop (near Shuishe Pier).

The Village near to Sun Moon Lake Bus Stop (near Shuishe Pier)

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It had plenty of activities to do at Sun Moon Lake. However, It had only about 6 hours there as I had to catch the bus back to Taichung HSR station before 4.30PM. To win the time, I would select only highlight activities what the visitor cannot miss as per following plan.
 1. Ride the boat from Shuishe Pier to Xuangguang Temple Pier and visit Xuan Zang Temple
 2. Ride the boat to Ita Thao Pier to visit Ita Thao Shopping District and enjoy The Cable Car
 3. Ride the boat back to Shuishe Pier and visit Longfeng Temple before catch the bus back to Taichung HSR station

Sun Moon Lake Map
(Source : https://www.1000milesjourney.com/sun-moon-lake-pass/sun-moon-lake-7/)

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First of all, an army marches on its stomach, it had Starbucks shop near to Shuishe Pier. I could not resist to grab a cup of latte and a piece of sandwish there to get ready for the lake trip. Honestly, it was one of the most beautiful Starbucks shop I ever see as I could enjoy my brunch and see the Sun Moon Lake view from there.

Recharge before starting the journey at Sun Moon Lake. ☕️
Caution : Sunglasses is the essential thing to bring with you as the sun light very strong there 🌞

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The lake view from Starbucks shop

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About 11AM, I started my lake trip by walk Shuishe Pier to catch the boat to Xuangguang Pier. As I got the boat ticket from the package I bought from Taichung HSR station already, I could skip the queue at boat ticketing counter and board the boat directly. I just show the ticket to the boat staff and he will tear the ticket off. And, All staffs were able to speak English, it was convenient to ask them if I am not sure. 🛥️

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Just only 10 minutes by boat from Shuishe pier, I could get Xuangguan Pier where Xuan Zang Temple is. From the pier, I just walked 5 minutes by stairway to get the temple which is located on the small hill near by the lake. This temple was built in 1965 by the Nantou County Government in honor of Hsüan-tsang, a 7th-century Chinese Buddhist monk who travelled to India to bring over 657 Indian texts to China during the Tang dynasty. The structure is modeled after ancient halls and rooms of the Tang dynasty. Xuan Zang Temple is open daily, 7.30AM – 5PM with free admission.

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I spent 30 minutes at Xuan Zang Temple before backing to Xuangguan Pier to take the boat to the next station, Ita Thao Pier which is only 10 minutes cruising time. Ita Thao is lively district as it has walking street (Ita Thao Shopping District), shopping center, cable car station and Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village. At walking street, I could find interesting local Taiwanese foods, snack and dessert. Despite I just had Starbucks last hour ago, but I could not resist the patability and colorfulness of street foods there.

Ita Thao Pier from distance

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Ita Thao Shopping District

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Ita Thao Shopping District

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After I felt satisfy at Ita Thao walking street, I walked along the lakeside trail to Sun Moon Lake Cable Car Station to admire the bird-eyes view of the lake and surrounding mountain. The cable car station is just 15 minutes walk from Ita Thao Pier. I just used cable car voucher what I bought with Sun Moon Lake trip package to exchange to Cable Car Ticket before boarding it. It took about 20 minutes to reach Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village Station where is the amusement park on the hill. If you have time (at least one night at Sun Moon Lake), this place is recommended. But I had only single day, it caused me to skip this place and just took cable car back to Ita Thao. 🚠

Sun Moon Lake Cable Car Station

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Cable Car Ticket

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Selfie Photo From The Cable Car

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Sun Moon Lake From The Cable Car

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About an hour of cable car ride, it was about 2.30PM, I headed back to Ita Thao Pier to catch the boat back to Shuishe Pier. From there, it has one interesting temple where is just 15 minutes walk from the pier, Longfeng Temple. It is Taoism temple and one of the most famous temple in Nantou county where the believers visit here to bless for relationship and marriage with The God of The Moon. Furhermore, the temple is located in the hill on the back of Sun Moon Lake, the visitor could enjoy the stunning view of the lake from the front of the temple too. Longfeng temple is open daily, 8AM – 5PM with free admission.

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💕 Love is all around…..Just bless and believe 💕

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At 3.30PM, I walked back to Sun Moon Lake Bus Stop where I disembarked the but this morning to wait for the next bus to Taichung HSR station. As I asked the Nantou bus staff since I arrived here, the late afternoon bus to Taichung HSR station would be departed at 4.10PM and 4.30PM. Once I arrived the bus stop, it had almost 60 peoples queuing threre as it was the popular time to leave Sun Moon Lake. I was able to board the bus at 4.30PM. So, I recommend you to spare the time for queuing to avoid missing the bus even on the weekday. Anyhow, the ground staffs of Nantou bus managed the passenger wisely and systematically. All passengers could get the bus as they wishes.

I arrived Taichung HSR at 5.45PM, about 45 minutes before train departure. I had sometime to get refresh and have something to eat before boarding the train. The travel time to Taipei was just about an hours, I arrived Taipei HSR station right on-time and caught MRT to Ximen station where my hotel is.

Once I exited from MRT station, it was 8PM and the Ximen Walking Street was bustling. Many food stalls, souvenir shops and brandname stores with thousands of people made it is the colorful and lively district. I took about an hour to walk around there. It was wonderful time ! 🌃⭐️🌙

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At 9PM, I walked back to the hotel to rest from one of my exhausted day. But it was the exhausted with happiness as it was my another expliration day to touch the world I never before. I felt my traveling experience had been levelled-up. However, my Taiwan trip was not finished yet. The next day, I would move to another location where is totally different from today. I could not wait to get that feeling. I wished that the wind would be at my side on tomorrow. Good Night. 😴

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Written by : Shipy Siwarit Tiasuwattiseth

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