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Outdoors

Sun Moon Lake Bike Loop

You ride all the way around Sun Moon Lake via Shuishe, Wenwu Temple, the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway station and Ita Thao village, back to Xiangshan. Highlights include the 400 m waterfront bikeway above the water near Xiangshan and Ita Thao's 600 m lakeside cycle path; much of the loop shares the road with traffic.

For The Reps · Updated

bike ride scenery for Sun Moon Lake Bike Loop near Nantou
Photo: Nantou-County Taiwan Sun-Moon-Lake-Ropeway-01 by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0). Via Wikimedia Commons.
Where
Nantou, Taiwan
Distance
30 km loop
Time
About 3.5 hours

The route

Huanhu (round-the-lake) Bikeway, clockwise from Xiangshan Visitor Center.

Start at Xiangshan Visitor Center. From THSR Taichung Station, take the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Sun Moon Lake Route from exit 5, platform 3; it takes about 90 minutes.

When to go

The bikeway is open from 09:00 to 17:00 all year, with temporary closures for natural disasters or maintenance posted as construction notices; the scenic area holds its annual cycling festival each October and November.

Before you go

  • Ride clockwise, as the scenic area administration recommends.
  • Walk your bike across the wooden Shuishe Dam section and through the Yuetan section, where cycling is not allowed.
  • Bikes can be hired at Xiangshan (Merida) and Shuishe (Giant), among other shops listed by the scenic area administration.
  • Wear a helmet and gloves, and check your brakes before the descents.

What to bring

  • Helmet
  • Spare tube, tyre levers and a pump
  • Water and snacks
  • Front and rear lights
  • A layer for descents and stops

Getting ready for it

Time in the saddle matters more than speed.

If you have not ridden for a while, do two or three rides of an hour or two first so your legs and your seat are used to it.

Staying safe

  • The official site lists dangerous climbs and descents on Highway 21 (66-69 km, Xiangshan to Toushe) and on Highway 21A between Jioulongkou and Wenwu Temple, Ita Thao and Xuanguang Temple pier, and Huanhu No. 1 Tunnel and Toushe.
  • The Dazhuhu car park and trail entrance are closed for bike path works until at least the end of 2026.
  • Wear bright clothing and use lights wherever there is traffic.
  • Check your brakes and tyres before you leave.

Route details checked September 30, 2026 against theme.sunmoonlake.gov.tw, sunmoonlake.gov.tw, theme.sunmoonlake.gov.tw, theme.sunmoonlake.gov.tw and sunmoonlake.gov.tw. Rules and closures change, so check before you go.