3 Days Sun Moon Lake Alishan Group Tour: Tour Asia’s Natural Heart

Li Hao (Hello)! Welcome to Taipei, the capital of Taiwan. Taipei was honored as the 2nd best global travel city by Lonely Planet in 2022. It's a city open to all. Its culture, style, and attitude come at you in the best way possible! Modern Taipei 101 stands hand-in-hand with traditional temples. Night markets dot city, satisfying both locals and travelers.

Upon arrival at Taipei, you can make your own way to the hotel to rest. We'll inform you of the check-in procedure via Line, WeChat, or WhatsApp in advance. If you don't receive a notification, please contact us for immediate assistance. Your driver or guide will notify you of the next day's meeting time by phone or text message before 10 PM.

P.S. Locals are very warm and friendly, so feel free to ask for directions. And hotels do not provide disposable amenities such as razors, combs, toothbrushes, and toothpaste. Please bring your own.

Free Time Idea:

If your flight arrives earlier, you can head to Taipei 101 (台北101) on your own to overlook the city streets and skyline. In the evening, you can savor street food at night market, trying bubble tea, fried chicken cutlets, stinky tofu, and more, kicking off your Taipei tour.

Top 2 Night Market:

Shilin Night Market (士林夜市): Taipei's top night market – the largest and most famous. First-time visitors to Taipei usually choose this one, with over 500 food stalls.

• Getting there: MRT Red Line (Jiantan Station, Exit 1, about a 5-minute walk).

Linjiang Night Market (通化夜市): A night market located an 18-minute walk from Taipei 101.

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Taipei

After breakfast, drive 3.5h to Sun Moon Lake from Taipei. On the way near lake, DIY Pineapple Cakes (凤梨酥) first. This cake stand out as Taiwan's representative traditional pastry, filling with fresh pineapple or winter melon. It’s crisp, milky, and melt-in-your-mouth. This cake symbolizes good luck in Taiwan, and you'll get to make your own good fortune!

Note: Book seven days in advance.

Then, head to Sun Moon Lake (日月潭) for half day, Taiwan's largest natural freshwater lake and one of its "Eight Great Sights," as well as a sacred site for Taiwan's Thao indigenous people. At 748 meters elevation, the 116 square-kilometer lake boasts emerald green waters. Lalu Island divides it into two halves: Sun Lake (north, round like the sun) and Moon Lake (south, crescent-shaped like the moon).

Look afar, lake is surrounded by mountains adorned with beautiful trees. Pagodas peek through the foliage, and sunlight dances on water's surface. That’s "jumping sunshine"! You can take a sightseeing yacht counter-clockwise to explore all the highlights (Shuishe Pier → Xuanguang Temple Pier → Ita Thao Pier → Shuishe Pier).

Departing from Shuishe Pier by sightseeing yacht, you'll pass Lalu Island (拉鲁岛), the legendary home of the Thao ancestral spirits, which partially submerged due to an earthquake. Arrive at Xuanguang Pier to disembark and try delicious tea eggs. Follow the trail to Xuanguang Temple (玄光寺) by the lake, then proceed to Xuanzang Temple (玄奘寺) to see the relics of Master Xuanzang, and finally ascend Ci'en Pagoda (慈恩塔) for a panoramic view of Sun Moon Lake. Return to the pier to head to Ita Thao Pier, enjoy local delicacies ashore, and then return to Shuishe Pier.

Optional: If time permits, you can choose to cycle around the lake near Shuishe Pier, or take a cable car to explore the indigenous cultural theme park, Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village (九族文化村).

After the tour, stay at a hotel in Sun Moon Lake.

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Sun Moon Lake

Wake up in Sun Moon Lake’s mist, you’ll head to Alishan this day (about 2.5h drive). On the way to Alishan, drink High-mountain Tea (高山茶). Taiwan is world-renowned tea hub for over 300 years. High-mountain teas, cultivated since the 1970s in Alishan, yield a crisp, sweet perfume. Take a sip, feel Alishan drifting out from tea!

Then, head to Alishan, sung about by Asian superstar Teresa Teng as having "girls beautiful as water." Alishan stands alongside Sun Moon Lake as a major Taiwanese natural landmark.

You'll visit the core Alishan National Forest Recreation Area (阿里山森林游乐区), over 2,000 meters above sea level. This is Taiwan's most popular forest recreation area, famous for its forest railway, giant trees, evening glow, sunrise, and sea of clouds. The Alishan Forest Railway, one of only three high-mountain railways left globally. You’ll love red trains cut through mist, gliding past trees as they climb the mountain. Take ride and step into forest world! Choose Nature (A) route or Culture (B) route:

A Route (Zhaoping Station, Sisters Ponds, Three Brothers & Four Sisters, Golden Pig Auspice, Forever Love, Magnolia Garden, Shouzhen Temple)

Ride forest train or shuttle to Zhaoping Station. Then walk to Sisters Ponds where two sisters, loving same man but unwilling to harm each other, ended their lives. Then visit Three Brothers & Four Sisters (trees from shared roots), reach Golden Pig Auspice, a pig-typed tree stump shimmering under sun. Pass heart-shaped Forever Love tree to Magnolia Garden, and Shouzhen Temple (Alishan's largest temple dedicated to its guardian deity). Return by shuttle.

B Route (Shouzhen Temple, Three Generations of Wood, Alishan Museum, Xianglin Elementary School, Ciyun Temple, Alishan Sacred Tree Remains)

Take shuttle to start at Shouzhen Temple, visit Three Generations of Wood (three trees stubbornly growing from a single root). Explore Alishan Museum (tree specimens, indigenous culture), pass Xianglin Elementary (Taiwan's highest-altitude school), then reach cultural landmark of Alishan - Ciyun Temple (high Buddhist temple, Japanese Zen style). See Alishan Sacred Tree Remains, including the 2,300-year-old Xianglin Sacred Tree (香林神木). After gazing up at king of forest, take train back to the entrance.

Note: Train tickets and shuttle bus fees are at your own expense.

Tips:

• Alishan Forest Railway tickets are populaConsult us to purchase in advance.
• Temperatures are low, even in summer, staying around 15∘C (59∘F). Bring a light down jacket.
• Pack high-calorie snacks like chocolate.

Your 3-Day Sun Moon Lake & Alishan Tour ends in Chiayi. We, Asia Odyssey Travel, are so glad to accompany you for 3 Days Sun Moon Lake Alishan Tour, and are always prepared to design your destination in China and Asia. See you again!

Extend Your Travel to China Mainland: Take a flight to Beijing Forbidden City & Great Wall (3.5h), Shanghai The Bund (2h), Chengdu Panda (3.5h).

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Chiayi