The tower
Nine tiers.
Bernard Gagnon — CC BY-SA 3.0 · CEphoto, Uwe Aranas — CC BY-SA 3.0 · lienyuan lee — CC BY 3.0
A nine-tier tower on a wooded hilltop above Sun Moon Lake's south shore, built in 1971 in honour of Chiang Kai-shek's mother. Its top stands about a thousand metres above sea level, so from the water it looks like a white and orange needle above the forest. A shaded trail climbs about 700 metres through pine and bamboo from the bus stop on the lake road. A spiral stair inside the tower climbs to the top tier, with a small bell and windows facing the four directions. From the top the whole lake opens out in both its sun and moon shapes, with Lalu island at its centre and layers of blue hills around. The trail is calm compared with the busy lake piers. Entry is free; the climb is moderate and takes about twenty minutes. Taiwan's typhoon season runs from June to October, peaking July to September, so check forecasts before heading to mountains and coasts, per UK travel advice.
Nine tiers.
Sun and moon.
Quiet.
Shabalan Mountain, south shore of Sun Moon Lake
Yes, a spiral stair climbs inside to the top tier, with a view of the whole lake, and entry is free.
