Riyue Tan and the island dividing Nantou’s mountain lake

Riyue Tan, internationally known as Sun Moon Lake, is a highland lake in Yuchi Township, Nantou County, Taiwan. Lalu Island divides its water into two sections, giving the shoreline a distinctive arrangement of bays, temples, villages and forested hills.

Riyue Tan: a lake divided by Lalu Island

The lake lies at about 748 m (2,454 ft) above sea level and covers approximately 7.93 sq km (3.06 sq miles). Its water reaches about 27 m (89 ft) at its deepest point, while wooded mountains form the basin around the shore.

Lalu Island is the central geographical feature of Riyue Tan. The island separates the water into areas traditionally associated with the sun and the moon, reflected in the Chinese name ???. The Thao people call the lake Zintun, and Thao culture remains part of the area’s identity.

Mountains, temples and the lake basin

The shoreline combines mountain slopes with small harbours, settlements and religious sites. Wenwu Temple occupies a northern hillside, while Xuanguang Temple and Xuanzang Temple stand near the eastern and southern parts of the lake.

Ci En Pagoda rises on Mount Shabalan above the water. Ci En Pagoda’s history links the nine-storey structure with Chiang Kai-shek and its completion in 1971. The pagoda is associated with a mountain summit reaching about 1,000 m (3,281 ft) above sea level.

The temples introduce rooflines, courtyards, stairways and stonework into the lakeside landscape. Their positions above the water create clear visual relationships between religious architecture, wooded ridges and the open lake.

From hydroelectric lake to national scenic area

Riyue Tan has also been part of Taiwan’s infrastructure history. A hydroelectric project altered the lake’s water system during the Japanese colonial period, and the Taiwan Power Company was established in 1919.

The lake’s historical record includes engineering, transport, indigenous culture and tourism. The Sun Moon Lake historical record includes the establishment of the Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Headquarters on 24 January 2000.

The protected scenic area extends beyond a single viewpoint. It includes the lake, surrounding mountain country, settlements, temples, paths and cultural sites. This combination gives Riyue Tan a layered identity as a landscape, a water-management site and a place connected with Thao heritage.

Visiting Riyue Tan: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Riyue Tan lies in Yuchi Township, Nantou County, in central Taiwan. Road transport connects the lake with Nantou’s inland towns, and the lake is served by harbours and lakeside settlements.
• The shore is surrounded by hills, with temples and viewpoints reached by ascending roads, stairways and mountain paths. Ci En Pagoda stands above the lake on Mount Shabalan.
• The official language is Mandarin Chinese and the currency is the New Taiwan dollar.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Riyue Tan

Where is Riyue Tan?

Riyue Tan is in Yuchi Township, Nantou County, in central Taiwan. It lies within a mountainous inland basin surrounded by forested slopes.

What can visitors expect at Riyue Tan?

The landscape combines open water, wooded mountains, temples, harbours and settlements. Views vary between shoreline scenes and elevated perspectives above the lake.

What makes Riyue Tan distinctive?

Lalu Island divides the lake into two sections associated with the sun and moon. The setting also brings together Thao heritage, Buddhist and Confucian temples, hydroelectric history and mountain scenery.