Nantou Päiväretket

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!

Ease of locating the meeting point and although there is no tour guide provided on this day tour, it is very self-sufficient. The tour to Sun Moon Lake is enjoyable with lots of food choices. But for those who would like to explore the island by cable car, ferry or the bus, this half day tour may not be enough. The other half day is to visit a chocolate factory, stopover for donuts at a cafe and a visit to Paper Dome.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Meillä oli upea kokemus Sun Moon Lake -kierroksellamme, ja suuri osa siitä oli Jeannien ansiota! Hän oli ystävällinen, ammattitaitoinen, järjestelmällinen ja uskomattoman asiantunteva koko matkan ajan. Hän jakoi mielenkiintoista tietoa jokaisesta kohteesta, piti ryhmän ajan tasalla ja varmisti, että kaikki sujui ongelmitta. Hänen energiansa ja intohimonsa työtään kohtaan todella paransivat kokemusta ja tekivät kierroksesta sekä nautinnollisen että ikimuistoisen. Sun Moon Lake on kaunis jo itsessään, mutta Jeannien kaltaisen oppaan ansiosta kokemus oli vieläkin parempi. Suosittelen tätä kierrosta lämpimästi, ja jos olet onnekas ja saat Jeannien oppaaksesi, olet hyvissä käsissä!

Would have been better if the guide can speak in English (specifically chosen English speaking guide in Klook) nevertheless he’s still trying his best to communicate thru one of the guest who can speak English. He would consistently offer taking a photo during the trip.

I was drawn by the inclusion of the forest railway, so I booked a 2-day, 1-night Alishan trip (outbound: car, return: car + train). After the reservation was confirmed, I received information about what to bring and precautions via LINE. Closer to the date, I also received detailed information about the meeting point, driver's name, and vehicle number, which was reassuring. (All in Chinese, but translation software helped.) The documents provided when boarding the shuttle car also included Japanese, which was easy to understand. The guide spoke Chinese, so I needed someone to translate for me, but there was plenty of explanation time during the 2-hour hike. The paths were well-maintained with wooden decks and stone pavements, so even with my limited stamina and in the rain, I was able to walk comfortably. One word of caution: if you use a private car transfer, there's a high risk of motion sickness because the winding mountain roads have significant inclines. Even though I don't usually get car sick, I felt quite ill during the return transfer from Alishan to Fenqihu and wished I had brought motion sickness medication.

Matkaopas on erittäin ystävällinen, ja hän on myös kuljettajamme. Matkamme on pieni, kahdeksan hengen ryhmä. Nautimme maisemista ja pidimme niistä. Herra Wilsonin palvelu on erinomaista, hän lähetti meille tietoa matkasta tekstiviestillä. Hän on aina täsmällinen.

Tommy on aivan mahtava opas, ja Sun Moon Lake -päiväretki on paras retki, vaikka matka Ximenistä kestää 3 tuntia. Se on silti aikasi arvoinen, koska paikka on erittäin kaunis ja siellä voi todella nauttia, varsinkin jos olet oman perheesi kanssa. Suosittelen tätä retkipakettia lämpimästi erityisesti kirsikankukkien aikaan. Olen 100 % tyytyväinen asiakas, sillä koko matka oli vaivaton. Hyvin tehty Tommy, todella erinomainen opas.

Upea kokemus! Päivää ennen lähtöä sain viestin, jossa vahvistettiin noutoaika. Toimintapäivänä kuljettaja saapui täsmällisesti majatalon ovelle. Matkalla ylös vuorelle hän pysähtyi noin 2700 metrin korkeudessa pitämään pienen tauon ja ottamaan kuvia. Sen jälkeen kuljettaja laski huomaavaisesti ikkunat alas, jotta kaikki tottuisivat ulkoilmaan ja vuoristotaudin riski pienenisi. Kävimme joissakin Hehuan-vuoren kuuluisissa näköalapaikoissa, ja meillä oli myös noin tunnin vapaa-aika, jonka aikana saattoi kiivetä Shimen-vuorelle tai Hehuanjian-vuorelle. Kaiken kaikkiaan aktiviteetti oli hieno ja kuljettaja ammattitaitoinen, suosittelen!

Eric Wu is an outstanding tour guide who made our experience truly memorable. He is very accommodating, kind, and genuinely helpful from start to finish. He made sure everyone in the group felt comfortable, well-informed, and taken care of throughout the tour. His ability to communicate clearly in both Chinese and English was a huge advantage, making the whole experience smooth and easy to understand for everyone. Eric was always patient in answering questions, giving helpful tips, and sharing interesting insights about each place we visited. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a professional, friendly, and reliable tour guide. Thank you, Eric, for such a wonderful experience!