Sun Moon Lake Year Ladder Trail Introduction
Before the construction of the Circular Lake Highway, visiting the Wenwu Temple required taking a boat to a dock near the temple and then hiking up a steep stairway, which was quite exhausting. As a result, this stairway was once known as the "Heavenly Ladder." After the completion of the Circular Lake Highway, it became easier for tourists to visit the Wenwu Temple, leading to the gradual neglect of the steps below the temple. In recent years, the Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Administration has renovated the stairway, which is approximately 150 meters long and features 366 steps, symbolizing the 366 days of a leap year. Along the way, resting platforms are provided at the beginning of each month, and relevant information about the twenty-four solar terms is engraved on both sides of the stairway, allowing visitors to learn about Taiwan's traditional folk culture while climbing. Thus, this stairway has been dubbed the "Wenwu Temple Year Steps" or "Year Steps Trail." In addition to information on the twenty-four solar terms, the Year Steps Trail also features a design for "Blessing Wind Bells," offering tourists a fun blessing activity. Visitors can purchase a wind bell corresponding to their zodiac sign at the Wenwu Temple, have it blessed by the temple, then write their name and wishes on it. They can then ring a large wind bell at the entrance of the Year Steps before descending the steps to hang their blessing wind bell on the railing corresponding to their birthday, thus completing the activity. Walking along the Year Steps Trail provides another fun experience: each step is engraved with the date and the names of famous individuals, both domestic and international, born on that day. You can see which famous person shares your birthday! Searching while walking makes the climb of 366 steps feel much less tiring.
