Formosa Aboriginal Cultural Village & Ropeway

Sun Moon Lake - We woke up early for breakfast which was provided by the Hotel.  It was a simple fare of sandwiches, buns, tea and hot soya bean drink.   As we bought our ferry tickets the night before from the Hotel which is 50% cheaper @ NT150.   The 1st ferry departs at 9:10am for across the Sun Moon Lake to Ita Thao town.

That's us boarding our ferry to Ita Thao town.  This is also where we get the Ropeway to the Peak and the start of the Formosa Aboriginal Village. 

That's Ita Thao town in the horizon...we walk through the small township.

From the township, we will have to walk along the wooden broadwalk to the Ropeway (Cable car).

The scenary along the broadway is so beautiful.

Finally reached the Ropeway...and on board the cable car bound for the Formosa Aboriginal Cultural Village and Aladdin Theme Park. It was a relaxing cable car ride with a spendid view of the Sun Moon Lake and the surrounding green mountain forest.    The cable car structure stretches 1.87 km on the southeast side of Sun Moon Lake and slowly ascends from Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village.  Then it continues another 786 metres over the Buji mountain valley and connects to the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway station. 

View from the cable car.

My kids love the theme park...and went to every single activity they had but we had to get  back to the Ropeway because the last cable car down is about 4pm.   So, we took the cable car back to Ita Thao town and then the ferry back to Shueishe Pier.  Catch the Nantou bus to Taichung and then HSR train to Chiayi.  We have to travel long distances and hours to get from one place to another.

Cingjing Farm

Sun Moon Lake - Woke up early for breakfast @ 8am.  We fortunate to catch the 9:15am Nantou bus for a 40 minutes ride to Puli town and then another 1.5hrs to Cingjing Farm.   When we are nearing Cingjing, the bus driver told us to alight which we did but it was actually 2 bus stops earlier. 

We had our lunch at a huge 7-11 store.

There is also a Carton King store at Cingjing.

Post Office made from paper carton

After lunch, we walked for an hour up to Chingjing Farm to see the sheeps and horses.  It was a uphill and very tiring.   

Finally reach the Cingjing Farm....1750 metres above sea level.  Cingjing farm is an ideal place for growing highland vegetables and fruits because of its rainy and mild climate.  The farm also has free-range cows and sheeps wandering through the high grasslands.  It is hectare upon hectare of rolling meadow dotted with sheeps and cows.  The entrance fee NT160 Adult, NT 120 Child.  The farm charge our children @ child entrance rate.

After Cingjing, we waited at the bus-stop to catch the 4.40pm Nantou bus back to Puli town.   This bus jouney was longer as it fetched many students along the way and finally reach Puli town @ 6:10pm.   We were very tired and hungry - the kids wanted to eat KFC and so we headed to the nearest outlet to eat.

After dinner, we took the 8pm bus ride back to Sun Moon Lake.  By the time, we are back at the Hotel, we are so exhausted but it was a good day of events.

Sun Moon Lake

Sun Moon Lake -  Sun Moon Lake is the most famous and legendary Lake in Taiwan.  Sun Moon Lake is the biggest lake in Taiwan.  The lake is encircled by layers of mountains shrouded in clouds and mists.  The green waters reflect their surroundings perfectly, and the effect is poetic and calming.  There are many hotels that dot the lakeshore. 

We took the taxi to Banciao MRT station and bought the High Speed Rail (HSR) bound for Taichung.  Taiwan HSR opened in 2007 and it now takes 40 minutes to reach Taichung which would otherwise be a 2hrs train ride.   With the opening of the HSR, it means that day trips is now possible to many of the island's cities, mountains and beaches.

From Taichung, we took the Nantou Bus directly to Sun Moon Lake (about an hr journey). 

Since the check-in for our hotel is about 3pm - we walked around the Lake for some lunch.  Came across a family diner that served noodles.

There are 14 hiking trails at Sun Moon Lake that meader through the mountains forests adn around the Lake shore.   After checking-in, we did a Hanbi Hiking Trail because it's the shortest and nearest to our hotel. 

We came across by accident a Sky Deck with a glass flooring from a height.  It is actually part of The Wen Wan Resort.

This is what the sky deck looks like....

We had our dinner @ a cafe - February coffee - very good Italian food.

February Coffee dining area

chicken fingers - one of the dish we ordered