Things to do in Nantou

The itinerary deserves a perfect score, and first, I'd like to express my gratitude to our driver and guide, Brother Ken! Brother Ken arrived very early to pick us up and took thoughtful care of everyone. Our first stop was Cingjing Farm. The journey wasn't short, and the mountain roads were winding, making me wonder if it would be boring, but it wasn't at all. Brother Ken started sharing many interesting local stories even before we began ascending the mountain, which was incredibly entertaining. He would share details about every place we passed. On the way up, we saw trucks transporting cabbages down from the high mountains, and we got a sense of the indigenous people's way of life, culture, and art. Even the place names we passed had their own history. Thanks to Brother Ken, I learned so much about Nantou. The mountains in Nantou are truly beautiful. Stepping into the vast mountains, I truly understood what it means to see layers of green peaks. The mountains seemed endless. Occasionally, we'd pass by cliffs, and in the distance, we could see riverbeds. It was the dry season, so they looked like shallow, scratch-like marks, with a few shimmering, wide, thin mirrors reflecting on them. The scenery was captivating. Upon arriving at the farm, the weather was perfect. Time seemed to stand still under the blue sky and white clouds, and we gradually felt the temperature becoming cooler. Sheep trotted on the slopes, creating little 'flowers' on the lush green grass. The walking path was built along the mountain, and a few horses grazed in the flat area below. In the distance, the continuous mountain ranges were hazy, only their general outlines remaining, blending into the azure sky. We walked along the path to the exit, where Brother Ken picked us up for lunch before taking us to our second destination, Sun Moon Lake. Getting out of the car, I was immediately drawn to the surface of Sun Moon Lake. It was more expansive than I imagined, with an emerald-like surface that seemed bottomless. Just then, fragmented sunlight fell upon it, creating shimmering ripples, like light, thin silk stretching and unfurling in the wind. Taking a boat tour of the lake was exhilarating. The breeze was refreshing, reducing some of the early summer heat. Brother Ken continued to provide explanations, deepening our impression of Sun Moon Lake. The boat stopped at several piers, and in the shallow waters near the shore, we could faintly see small fish. I guessed the fish were as happy as I was. During our free time, we walked to the Yuchi Township Farmers' Association's Ita Thao branch and bought Ruby Black Tea. It felt like a must-do to bring back some black tea from Sun Moon Lake. The Assam milk tea we bought from a roadside shop was also delicious. On the boat ride back, we could see the cable cars, adding to the relaxed atmosphere. Sun Moon Lake at sunset, with its water becoming deeper and more profound, gently smoothed away all worries. Even though we were reluctant to leave, it was time to head back. Brother Ken drove us back, again carefully reminding us to gather our personal belongings. On the way back, we watched the sun set, and the fields along the highway turned golden. The lingering warmth of the sun gradually faded, and our phone galleries filled with more and more photos. I thought to myself how truly happy this day had been, and it had passed by so quickly. As night fell, we finally returned to Taichung, and Brother Ken patiently dropped us off at our respective accommodations, bidding us farewell. I am so grateful to Brother Ken and to this one-day tour. It felt like a wonderfully beautiful dream. I love the mountains and waters of Nantou, and perhaps if I ever feel anxious again, looking back at this trip, recalling those interesting little stories, those adorable little sheep, and those lovely ripples, will bring me peace. I truly hope to have the chance to visit again!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We had an amazing experience on our Sun Moon Lake tour, and a big part of that was thanks to Jeannie! She was friendly, professional, organized, and incredibly knowledgeable throughout the entire trip. She shared interesting information about each destination, kept the group informed, and made sure everything ran smoothly. Her energy and passion for what she does really enhanced the experience and made the tour both enjoyable and memorable. Sun Moon Lake is beautiful on its own, but having a guide like Jeannie made the experience even better. Highly recommend this tour, and if you’re lucky enough to have Jeannie as your guide, you’re in great hands!

It was unfortunate that the transfer we booked separately did not drop us where the bike rental is located but it's okay as we still enjoyed the Sun Moon Lake and was able to walk around. Good thing that the ropeway was just a 10-minute walk so we were able to ride it immediately. We're lucky that it was a weekday so there's not much tourists so we got the gondola by ourselves only. The claiming of ropeway was easy, we just went to 3rd floor and showed the qr code and they stamped our hands with glow in the dark stamp for Formosan and we're already set. It was a good 5-10min ropeway ride. At the end of the ropeway from SML, there's few food stalls. Upon entering Formosan, just scan the stamp in your hand and you can ride the gondola again going to the theme park. It was a weekday so we had the place to ourselves and there were no queues. It was unfortunate that it rained the whole day but we still got to ride some of the rides there.

Great experience. Hike or bike the temple (first stop) if you can. The scene there is fantastic. There are lots of food stalls in Ita-Thao. The cable car is fantastic and total roundtrip is about 20-mins. The windows are. open so you can definitely feel the fresh air.

Klook ticket prices are the same as buying them on-site, but at least you don't have to queue to buy tickets. It's super convenient to just find staff at the entrance and scan the QR code voucher! It also comes with a free 4-pack of Yoshan Tea Culture tea bags, but you have to make a special trip to the Yoshan Tea Culture Museum to redeem them, instead of receiving them upon entry.

At Mengmeng Garden, there are many animals you can get up close and personal with, it's so much fun! It's like a mini wildlife park, with meerkats, goats, capybaras, sika deer, ducks, black swans, foxes, sloths, tortoises, eagles, and more. You can redeem tea eggs and jelly with your ticket, and if you comment + follow us, you can also redeem a capybara keychain! So happy! 😃

It's very good! 👍🏻 You can observe animals up close, and there are even interactive experiences. It's different from a typical zoo; it's very clean and doesn't have much odor. The park isn't too big for walking, but for families with small children, we recommend bringing a stroller or renting a park vehicle. Also, remember to bring water and sunscreen if the weather is hot.

Purchasing tickets is convenient; you can buy and use them immediately. The park isn't large, but the buildings are grand and exquisite. The courtyard features many sculptures perfect for photos, and the plants are meticulously maintained. There are also adorable pets you can interact with, making it an ideal spot for adults and children to relax, enjoy coffee, and have snacks on holidays.

enjoyable experience with the sheep. super long trail via the sky bridge to swiss garden, note that its not exactly connected and need to walk another 600m down slope. otherwise all good with green green land. swiss garden is small and kid friendly