Sun Moon Lake

Meet your tour guide and driver at the hotel lobby, and then head for the heart of the island, Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area. Just sit back, relax and enjoy the ever-changing scenery through the window during the 3-hour ride. Before reaching Sun Moon Lake, you will stop by Puli for a lunch break (at your own expense). Puli is blessed with pure and clean water, the high quality of water helps to develop a successful wine production business locally. You will visit Puli Winery before lunch. You will then depart for Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area. Sun Moon Lake is the biggest natural lake in Taiwan. The lake is divided by Lalu Island; the east side of the lake resembles the sun while the west side resembles the crescent moon, hence the name. The area around the lake is also the home to the Thao people, a group of Taiwan indigenous peoples. With a rich indigenous culture and abundant natural beauty, Sun Moon Lake has become one of the top-ranked destinations in Taiwan.

Yidashao Pier

Yidashao(Ita Thao), was named Te Hua village after the restoration of Taiwan. It has become the most populous area around the Sun Moon Lake. There are stores, restaurants, and hotels in the village. Also the thao people establishes the "Thao Cultural Village" for tourists to appreciate the traditional culture, songs, and dancing of the Thao Tribe.

Xuanzhuang Temple

Monk Xuanzang was the Holy Monk in the Tang dynasty. In 1965, the Monk Xuanzang's remains were moved to the Xuanzang Temple after the temple was rebuilt. There is a bell in front of the main gate,called "wake up bell." If you prefer quiet atmosphere, Xuanzang temple is the best places for you.

Ci'en Pagoda

Ci-en Pagoda was built by Chiang Kai-Shek in memory of his mother in 1971. The Ci-en Pagoda is 46 meters in height and has become the famous landmark of Sun Moon Lake. Surrounding the tower are beautiful plants and trees and there are stone tables and chairs for visitors to take a rest.

Xiangshan Visitor Center

The Xiangshang Visitor Center is both for tourism and administration use. The uniquely designed building has wood-patterned exteriors and wings that stretch like human arms embracing the earth. In addition, the two giant canopy structures, 34 meters long and 8 meters tall each, allow people to enjoy beautiful views of the Sun Moon Lake from the top. For the first night of your 3-day tour, you can enjoy a charming stay in a 5-star resort hotel.

Alishan National Forest Recreation Area

After breakfast, you will head for Alishan National Forest Recreation Area, a mountainous area famous for the unique forest railway, high altitude tea plantations, a number of forest trails, etc. Alishan National Forest Recreation Area is located in Chiayi County, covering an area of 1,400 hectares, which is the most well-known tourist destination in south Taiwan. Since you are in Alishan, of course you will not miss the opportunity to experience the forest train ride along a branch line of Alishan Forest Railway (Shemmu Line or Zhaoping Line), enjoying the ever changing scenery along the way. Besides the forest railway, you will explore the popular attractions such as Sisters Ponds, Shouzen Temple, and the sacred trees, relishing a nature therapy in the misty and dreamy forest. Later in the afternoon, you will take a ride down the mountain watching the sun goes down on the way.

Alishan Shenmu Area

This Formosan red cypress is the tallest and oldest of the trees on the Giant Tree Plank Trail. It has a girth of 13.1 meters and is 43.5 meters tall; it is estimated to be around 2000 years old. The tree also hosts Rhododendron kawakamii, the fern Oleandra wallichii (Hook.) Presl and other plants native to Taiwan.

Shouzhen Temple

Shouzen Temple is the largest temple in the Alishan area, restored in 1969. The main gods worshiped here are the Syuantian Emperor, the Fude God and the Jhusheng Goddess. After dinner (at your own expense), you can enjoy a good night sleep in a downtown 5-star hotel.

Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum

After breakfast, you will visit the South Branch of the National Palace Museum, the last stop of your 3-day tour in Sun Moon Lake and Alishan. The south branch was established in order to achieve a balance of cultural resources between the north and the south of Taiwan. Surround by man-made lakes, the South Branch of the National Palace Museum is located in a quiet and secluded area, about 30-min drive away from the downtown. It is a peaceful place to house the treasures of Chinese emperors, where the visitors can take their time and appreciate beauty of the art crafts. After lunch, you will head back to Taipei and arrive at the hotel later in the afternoon. You can take a nap during the 3.5-hour ride, and you will visit some rest stops before reaching Taipei.