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Sun Moon Lake & Alishan: Route Guide

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Sun Moon Lake pagoda — Sun Moon Lake & Alishan
Photo: Huaiwun · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Taiwan's sacred lake ringed by a perfect cycle path, then the high road over Tataka pass to Alishan, where the dawn forest train climbs through 2,000-year-old cypresses to a sunrise above the sea of clouds. Descend to Chiayi: the little city that built the mountain railway. For turkey rice and night-market redemption. High-mountain oolong from gardens you drove through.

Sun Moon Lake & Alishan is a 225 km one-way journey (self-drive). It works best as 4–6 days; the plan below is the 5-day version for November, built from 64 verified places, with real road-routed transit times, opening hours and daylight checked.

4–6
days
225km
distance
3
Stops
64
curated stops

Plan your own version → 4-day plan · 5-day plan · 6-day plan · best time to go

The route

Sun Moon Lake→ 105 kmAlishan→ 75 kmChiayi

What you'll see

Lalu Island
Spot the serene island rising from the heart of the lake.
Sun Moon Lake
Fenrui Historic Trail
Hike through a scenic bamboo forest connecting two charming towns.
Alishan
Chiayi Confucian Temple
Visit this 1706 Confucian temple, relocated in 1961 within Chiayi Park.
Chiayi
Wenwu Temple
Explore the grand temple halls on the lake's northern shore.
Sun Moon Lake
Giant Trees Trail
Walk among ancient, towering cypresses in a peaceful forest loop.
Alishan
Chiayi City Historical Relic Museum
Step into local history within the city's main park.
Chiayi
Ci-en Pagoda
Admire the elegant Chinese pagoda overlooking the tranquil lake.
Sun Moon Lake
Two Sister Ponds
Enjoy the tranquil beauty of two forest ponds and a charming pavilion.
Alishan

Choose your length

4-day plan19 stops · 8.1 h transit4.8 stops/day · 2 h transit/daySee the full plan →5-day plan26 stops · 8.9 h transit5.2 stops/day · 1.8 h transit/daySee the full plan →6-day plan29 stops · 9.1 h transit4.8 stops/day · 1.5 h transit/daySee the full plan →

When to go

Best months: October, November, December

The clearest sea-of-clouds sunrises from Alishan's viewing platforms, cycling weather around Sun Moon Lake, and Tainan's temple courtyards at their mildest.

See the month-by-month breakdown →

Similar journeys

Plan your own version →