At Sun Moon Lake we cycled the 30-kilometre loop around the water, with mist hanging over the hills. We went clockwise, past the Ci’en Pagoda and Wenwu Temple, sharing the path with wild monkeys and stopping now and then to look out over the still green water.
The pagoda stands 46 metres tall at the top of a path of about 700 metres from the road. Chiang Kai-shek had it built in 1971 in memory of his mother. Wenwu Temple honours Confucius along with the war gods Guan Gong and Yue Fei, and two red stone lions stand at its front. It’s easy to see why the lake is one of Taiwan’s best-loved places.
Good to know
- Hiring a bike: Giant has a shop at Yuchi, open 6am to 7pm from May to October and 7am to 6pm from November to April. It’s closed on Thursdays. Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area
- Ci’en Pagoda: Chiang Kai-shek had it built in 1971 in memory of his mother. It’s 46 metres tall, up a path of about 700 metres from the road. Taiwan Tourism
- Wenwu Temple: it honours Confucius and the war gods Guan Gong and Yue Fei. Look out for the two red stone lions at the front and the 366 “Year of Steps”.
We checked these times and prices in October 2026. They do change, so it's worth a quick look at the official sites before you go.