Sun Moon Lake Bicycle Path - Around the Lake Route Introduction
Sun Moon Lake's cycling path is approximately 30 kilometers long, featuring beautiful lake and mountain scenery. It has been voted one of the top ten most beautiful bike trails in the world by CNNGO, a travel and lifestyle website under CNN. Starting from the Xuanguang Visitor Center and circling the lake in a clockwise direction, the route passes through the Waterbird Area, which experiences some crowding and traffic, but this segment is relatively flat. From Jiulongkou towards Wenwu Temple, the terrain becomes steeper. Particularly from the Yun Pin Hotel to Wenwu Temple, cyclists may find this segment more challenging. There is a small platform in front of Wenwu Temple (next to the Jing Sheng Building) where visitors can take a break and enjoy the stunning lake view, allowing them to briefly forget their fatigue. After a short rest, cyclists can set off again, navigating occasional downhill and uphill sections while enjoying the cool breeze. Passing by the Sun Moon Lake Cable Car station, if you look up, you can see the cable cars moving back and forth. In winter, the pink cherry blossoms here are particularly beautiful. At noon, one can choose to find food in the Ita Thao business district and taste authentic Thao cuisine, and replenish supplies before setting off again! Upon reaching Cien Pagoda and Xuan Zang Temple, which are located at high points, cyclists can overlook the stunning views of Sun Moon Lake. After navigating the big bend at the Xuanguang Temple parking lot, it's mostly downhill to Toushe, so please pay attention to riding safely in this area. Finally, the route returns from Toushe to the Xuanguang Visitor Center, with steep gradients, making it a high-intensity ride. Due to some sections of the bike path not yet connected, it is recommended to ride along the lakeside road, while being mindful of traffic safety.
