04 December, 2012

SUN MOON LAKE (Part 1)

Travel and Accommodation

[Disclaimer to my friends: I have not taken leave of my spelling. Alternate spellings have been used as they are the names of places. I wish to be accurate so as not to confuse any who wish to travel there.]

Sun Moon Lake is the largest body of water in Taiwan. It is situated inland not far from Taichung in the Nantou region. I would recommend anyone staying in Taiwan for any length of time to take some time out to visit it, but with proper planning. I went there for only two days, which wasn't enough time for me to truly experience the place. I did, however, travel now (in "Winter", if it can be called that) which proved a treat as tourists were few and the weather acceptable.

The first part of any journey is working out how to get where you're going. The simplest route (from Taibei) is to take the High Speed Rail to Taichung. Once there head downstairs to exit 5. At the exit is a booth where one can buy tickets to Sun Moon Lake (Nantou). The people there can understand English and there is also a tourist info kiosk if you have questions or require maps/pamphlets/etc.

It's also possible to get there without the High Speed Rail. You can take the regular train to Taichung. You'll also catch a bus, but you'll be required to leave the train station and cross to Shuangshi Road.
The High Speed Rail takes about an hour with the bus trip taking 45mins. The return bus trip goes through the town/city to collect more passengers and if the traffic is bad it can take a while. I recommend going to the loo before getting on the bus.
When the bus arrives in Sun Moon Lake it will stop outside Shuishe Visitor Center. It is also from here that the buses leave to return to Taichung.

With regards to accommodation, there are various options. As you're dropped off the bus, with the Shuishe Visitor Center across the road to your left, behind you will be Min Ren Hotel:


It's just across the road from the "Vegtarian" Restaurant:


Min Ren Hotel is possibly the cheapest place, offering beds but no breakfast. The benefits of staying here are saving on cash. Location isn't too important (unless you want a good view) as everywhere is close. Here a double room can cost you around NT$1800/night.

This is the room my girlfriend and I stayed in:
 

As you can see we were put in a room on the end of the building (Room 21 if I remember correctly). The odd shape makes the room a little awkward, but not all of the rooms are like this. Here are pictures of another double-bed room and a room with singles: Room 1 and 4 (I think)





If you're not on a student budget and fancy a slightly more comfortable stay then here are a few options. There are various higher class places to stay, but here are a few of the mid-range ones I've seen.

Sun Moon Lake Hotel
When the bus drops you off, keep heading straight down the road. With the trees to your left and a hill to your right, it will almost seem as though you're leaving town again. The road will wind a little bit and a temple will appear on the hill to your right. A little further down the road you'll find a road turning off to your left. Take that road. You cannot miss the hotel. Seriously! It's huge and there are no other large buildings in the area.
There are also many small paths that lead down to the lake side which you can take and walk along if you'd prefer to walk with a view.
Tel:+886 49 2855 855

CoCo Tree
Upon disembarking from the bus, walk straight until you pass the visitor centre and take a left turn down the winding road. The road will curve back on itself whilst dropping into a dip. At the bottom of the dip one can continue straight or turn right into a car park. If you walk through the car park (staying to the right-hand side) you'll find a walkway going around a watery area with a few buildings on the right. The first is the CoCo Tree. I am unsure of its price range, but it appears to be a B&B of sorts as well as a restaurant.

Harbor Resort Hotel
As the name would imply, this hotel is right by the lake, close to the lake's edge. Sun Moon Lake has three piers: Shuishe Pier, Ita Thao Pier and Xuanguang Pier. The hotel is right by Shuishe Pier where you can book trips on the boats. One of the kiosks to buy tickets is directly outside the hotel - and possibly linked to the hotel.
Tel +886 49 2855 143

Lake side B&B
Surrounding the lake is a walkway mostly made of wood, but with a few stone sections. Starting at Shuishe Pier and walking clockwise around the lake I came across a house after a brisk 30min walk. There were business cards for the taking and I collected one.
The B&B has the advantage of being further away from the town and other tourists.
Tel: 049-2855108
Fax:049-2855211
Mob:0928-245855

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