Scenic spot

With a total stretch of 4.6 kilometers, the entrance to Moalan Mountain footpath is right next to Fuli Hot Spring Resort. Passing a Tea Research and Extension Station as well as tea terraces on the way, the footpath connects to a Chinese Olive “Red Carpet” walk and ends at the Sun Moon Lake Weather Station, one of the four most elevated weather stations in Taiwan. The beauty of Moalan Mountain is reputed as one of the eight classic must-sees while visiting Sun Moon Lake, and acclaimed as a sister landscape belonging to the scenic foursome of Sun Moon Lake. Moreover, Numbered 49 in the Top 100 Hiker-friendly Peaks of Taiwan, the Moalan Mountain’s summit, rising 1020 meters above sea level, allows a picturesque panorama of the whole lake, landscape painting-like swimming fog and sunrise in a sea of clouds.

The Japanese official house used to be the refinement tea factory built in 1936. The traditional Japanese construction is mainly built with cypress. The interior structure of the bamboo-mud walls is equipped with the function to keep the interior space dry. The historic building which is one of the few left is neighboring to Fu Li Hot Spring Hotel, which presents the contrast between the new and the old.

Built during the Japanese colonial period, in the 13th year of Shōwa Hirohito’s reign (1938 AD), this research center for large-leaf black tea is the only traditional English tea-processing plant standing in Taiwan. Now subordinate to the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, this antique legacy remains identical to those plants built in India and Sri Lanka by Englishmen. Moreover, serving as a tea library for the public, the tea culture exhibition center inside Yuchi Branch houses a multitude of information about tea. If you start from Fuli and take Moalan Mountain footpath, it will take you 30 to 40 minutes to reach the backyard garden and outdoor classroom of Fuli.

Arai Kokichiro was the third branch director of Yuchi Black Tea Research Laboratory, the last Japanese one before the retrocession of Taiwan. In 1945, when the Pacific War ended, although Arai Kokichiro handed the laboratory over to Nanjing Government, he had fallen so deeply in love with Taiwan that he decided to stay and dedicate himself to the development of Taiwan black-tea plantation. However, in 1946, he was robbed of his life by malaria, and his body was cremated on the current site of Yuchi branch, TRES. After his fall, his daughter, Arai Reilko, was bringing his ashes back to Japan, yet, alas, without ever returning to their homeland, their ferry sank on the way, and so did Kokichiro’s urn. The branch staff erected a monument in commemoration of his contribution, and he has since been honored as the father of Taiwan black-tea and the guardian of Moalan Mountain where Taiwan’s black tea industry rose. Our employees go and pay homage to him on a regular basis.

Longfeng Temple and Old Lunar Matchmaker Shrine are right next to each other, and both are 2 kilometers away from Fuli. While the temple, in which the Saint Brothers of Humbleness are worshipped, serves as a belief center for locals, the shrine was moved from Guanghua Islet (now called Lalu Islet) to its new location, because of the wreckage caused by the 921 earthquake. While the earthquake ruined all shrine facilities, the Matchmaker stood safe and sound in a corner. Marveling at this unbelievable phenomenon, the locals cast bamboo divination blocks for a new location to enshrine the deity and received a “yes” to restoration next to the temple. When visiting the shrine, you can ask for the Red String of Fate, an efficacious love charm, to draw your Mr. Right to you and ensure a lifelong partnership.

Mr. CHANG, LIAN-GUI, “the master of the bottles,” passed away when he was 84. He has left behind hundreds of delicate artifacts. His son, CHANG, WEN-YAO has put them in order and established “Ming Tang Legendary Custom Hall,” which is 1.7 km away from our hotel. The exquisite craftsmanship of the Han people is exhibited. Please come to listen to the story of the legendary old man in Sun Moon Lake. To visit the hall, please make a reservation. The entrance is only NT50 for each guest. Come to enjoy the tea and join the guided tour.

2.5 kilometers away from the Fuli and also known as the “Causeway of Love”, Shuishe Dam is the most celebrated spot for wedding shoots, as the dam offers an unparalleled 180 degrees view of Sun Moon Lake and can be easily accessed without the sweat of a climb. The scenic view probably tops all other Sun Moon Lake vistas, as it constantly attracts dating couples and has become a must for wedding shoots.

With a total length of 3 kilometers, the bikeway starts from Shuishe, passes Shuishe Dam and leads to Xiangshang Visitor Center. As the bike route hems around Sun Moon Lake, the open vista and the breathtaking sceneries along the way have won the bike route a spot in the Top Ten World’s Best Bike Routes, a recommendation chart sorted by CNN. Moreover, the route passes two attraction bridges, Wedlock Bridge as well as One Heart Bridge, and Lakeside Wedding Plaza. As the names suggest, these attractions are most spotlighted on the route, because they are ideal for wedding shoots. Also, the Sun Moon Lake Bottled Miniatures Gallery on the route is also worthwhile a visit, as you can learn the story of the legendary craftsman.

Only 3 kilometers away from Fuli, Xiangshang Visitor Center is located on Tai-21st Highway near Shuishe Tunnel and it is also where Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Administration lies. Designed by the Japanese architect, Dan Norihiko, this avant garde architecture’s wings mimic human arms stretching out and embracing Sun Moon Lake. Furthermore, the two gigantic, overarching canopies, each spanning 34 meters in length and rising 8 meters in height, buttress the furthest outreaching protuberances to bring in the scenery of Sun Moon Lake under their vaults. In this regard, as the architecture allows direct contact with the landscape, it is also a platform of dialogue for human beings and nature.

The “smallest” reservoir in Taiwan is about 5.9 km away from our hotel. Few people know about it, so it is kept quiet and natural. Toushe Reservoir is at about 700 meters of elevation, between Shueishe Dam and Toushe basin. Located at the peripheral area, fewer tourists come here. It is one of the best locations to enjoy the fireflies from April to October every year. Therefore, Toushe Reservoir has always been cherished as the private attraction by the local residents of Sun Moon Lake.

Toushe Living Basin is about 7.3 km away from our hotel. In the early days, it used to be a lake. The silt has made the lake into a peat soil basin. Afterwards, the forefathers couldn’t cultivate in the muddy land because the oxen will be stuck in it. To improve the situation, they carried the mountain in the ox cart to fill the land. After a while, the land has become a wonder with soil on the upper layer and water on the lower layer. If you visit Toushe Living Basin, don’t forget to experience the water-bed like land. As long as you jump or step hard on the land, the nearly land will shake at the same time!