Traveling in Taiwan (Part 3- Nantou County)

Best Thing in Taiwan? Traveling!

Have you every thought of just letting everything go and just follow your heart's desire for an adventure? Well, here it is! My adventure in Taiwan's Nantou County. This county is known for its surreal mountain ranges and for the most popular lake in Taiwan, SUN MOON LAKE (日月潭). So are you ready to experience the beauty of Nantou? Let's go!

THE BEGINNING

Just like any adventure, we all have our beginnings. Our plan was to go to two popular tourist destinations: Cingjing Sheep Farm and Sun Moon Lake. In order for us to reach our destination, we had to travel by bus from Taipei to Taichung City. The bus fare was around 240 NTD (8 USD) for about 2 hours. There are actually some great places to visit while you're staying over at Taichung like Fengjia Night market and Taichung Park. There are also some temples that you could visit and check out. Also, while in Taichung, we had to find a place where we can rent a scooter. Wait... What? A scooter? Yup, you heard me right! A scooter! As scooters are the most popular means (and actually the cheapest) of transportation in Taiwan, therefore, if you really want to enjoy the travel and the once in a lifetime view of the mountains then I suggest that you rent a scooter (or a motorbike, if you can afford to rent one).

The adventure begins here

ON THE WAY

As I searched over the internet and read through numerous forums, I noticed that the only way that people would be able to go to Cingjing and Sun Moon Lake was to pass from Taiping to Puli Township. According to the map above, the best route would be to go up the mountains and avoid traffic. And it was wonderful. The view was breath taking and relaxing. There were just a few travelers, most of them were cyclists or families traveling via private cars. We passed by some great places to take some time to just enjoy the views and take some photos.

In front of a bat cave

Batwoman in front of the bat cave

It was a pretty nice view

This is our view while riding the scooter

BY THE TIME WE ARRIVED

By the time we arrived at Cingjing, it was almost 4 o'clock in the afternoon. Cingjing Sheep farm closes at around 4 pm on regular days and at 5 during holidays. Some information about Cingjing Sheep farm: It is located at Renai Township at an altitude of 1,750 meters above sea level (Yup, it's a pretty high place!).  

Food! Eating time!

Cingjing Sheep farm, but it was already closing time

Zoro riding his steed

A Super Mario jump in 2014

8 degrees! Super cold!

It was a very peaceful view of the mountains

Did I tell you it was cold?

 Temperatures ranges from 15 to 24 degrees (but it can go as low as 8 degrees at night and early morning). At Cingjing, you'll be able to appreciate the wonderful mountain gorges and feed some tourist loving sheep! It was a fun experience to feed those sheep!

It was already 9 in the morning but the fog is still covering the mountains

What a beauty!

Cingjing Farm was full of people

Sheep!!! So cute!

The biggest sheep I've seen in the farm

Sheep: Just give me the food already!

A young sheep with its soft wool

Sheep's milk ice cream! Delicious!

Cheese!

ON TO THE NEXT STOP

The next stop was a challenge! After going up at an altitude of 1,750 meters, we now have to go down to Sun Moon Lake. It is considered to be the largest in-land body of water in Taiwan. It is also the most popular tourist attraction in the country. Contrary to what people might think of a lake, it is located 748 meters above sea level! Though swimming is not allowed in the lake, an annual event call Swimming Carnival of Sun Moon Lake is held during Mid-Autumn festival. Or if you don't want to swim, boats that tour around the lake are also available for your use! Sun Moon Lake also offers the chance for a bird's eye view over their Gondolas called the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway traveling over the lake. This Gondola will bring you to the Aboriginal Culture Park to enjoy some good, fun rides and attractions! They were even able to get the Japanese Animation, ONE PIECE to be the Theme of the Park for almost a year! It's a fun and wonderful experience and I think you should go there too!

Sun Moon Lake Rope way

A view up in the air

A nice sunset

Bear fight! (There's a big Teddy bear in each Gondola at that time)

Peace and tranquility

Boat rides!

The beauty of a place can never be appreciated over photos or even in stories but only through your own eyes. Most of the time, it's not the view that made it a wonderful experience but just plainly because of the ride. It took us 3 days to complete our adventure, but what made it all worth it was the scooter ride. I suggest that you go out there and just enjoy life and its beauty!

What is your adventure for today?

Grab your map!

Set forth! 

Go on your adventure!

Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.