Nestled among mountains, an idyllic refuge lies at the center of the island nation of Taiwan. Like a classical Chinese landscape painting, Sun Moon Lake emanates a tranquil beauty, with its clear waters set against a backdrop of emerald peaks.
Sun Moon Lake’s name comes from its unique shape: The eastern part resembles a round sun, while the western part looks like a crescent moon.
Besides its natural beauty, Sun Moon Lake is also a thriving center of aboriginal life in Taiwan. In the middle of the lake sits Lalu Island, an ancient settlement of the Thao tribe, one of Taiwan’s many ethnic minorities.
According to legend, the ancestors of the Thao people first discovered Sun Moon Lake while chasing a rare white deer through the surrounding mountains. Finding the lake was not only beautiful but also filled with fish, the Thao people resettled their tribe there. A marble statue now sits on Lalu Island, immortalizing the white deer of the story.
The Thao people now mainly live in Ita Thao, a village next to Sun Moon Lake dotted with shops selling local handicrafts, as well as eateries offering local foods. There’s a system of cable cars that carry visitors over mountain tops to the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village, which showcases the cultural heritage of Taiwan’s indigenous peoples.
The area around Sun Moon Lake also features traditional Chinese architecture, including several temples built in the styles of different Chinese dynasties. Among them is Xuanguang Temple, which enshrines the renowned Buddhist monk Xuanzang, who lived during the Tang Dynasty in the 7th century. His pilgrimage to India in search of sacred Buddhist texts inspired the classic Chinese story “Journey to the West.”
Right outside Xuanguang Temple is Jin Men Grandma’s Tea Eggs, the famous street stall selling braised tea eggs. Its owner, who has been selling them for 50 years, once said in an interview that she can sell up to 4,000 eggs a day. She meticulously cracks the boiled eggs and braises them in Assam tea, mushrooms, and herbs before putting them in the fridge to soak in the delicious flavors. This humble vendor is just one of the area’s many street stalls offering mouthwatering treats, often with some distinctive local flare.
Sun Moon Lake, once a quiet refuge, now frequently bustles with activity as locals and foreigners alike come to the lake to boat, bike, or hike while relishing in the picturesque scenery and the area’s rich cultural heritage.
Wenwu Temple
