Riyue Tan and the ring of water in Nantou
Published on 08/19/2026 at 22:49 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Riyue Tan in Nantou is an alpine lake in Yuchi Township, with Lalu Island dividing the water into two distinct halves. The scene rests on water, mountains and forest, rather than on built form.
Riyue Tan’s split surface and mountain ring
The lake’s name comes from its two visible shapes: one side reads as a crescent, the other as a sun-like round form. That division is part of the lake’s identity and is visible from the shore and water.
The lake sits within the Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area, and the surrounding landscape includes mountains and streams. Sun Moon Lake is one of Taiwan’s best-known alpine lakes, and the official tourism area places it in Yuchi Township, Nantou Countyalpine lake in Yuchi Township.
Riyue Tan in Nantou’s landscape and history
The lake belongs to a broader basin landscape in central Taiwan. The government tourism site describes it as part of the Puli Basins, and the name Sun Moon Lake is tied to Lalu Island’s division of the waterPuli Basins.
Japanese-era development changed the lake’s role within Taiwan’s infrastructure. The tourism site links the area to the Sun Moon Lake Hydropower Project and gives 1919 for the establishment of the Taiwan Power CompanySun Moon Lake Hydropower Project.
Riyue Tan’s routes, shoreline and nearby places
The lake is reached through Nantou County, with transport connections running via Taichung, TRA, THSR and long-distance buses. The tourism site also names Yuchi, Puli, Jiji and Shuili among the linked places around the scenic arearoutes via Taichung.
The shoreline includes named sights such as Wenwu Temple, Longfeng Temple, Ci En Pagoda, Yongjie Bridge and Xiangshan. The 400-metre Shuishang Bikeway starts at Shuishe and ends at Xiangshan Visitors Center, adding a clear linear element to the lakeside settingShuishang Bikeway.
Visiting Riyue Tan: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The lake lies in Yuchi Township, Nantou County, and access runs through Taichung by rail and bus. The main road network also links Puli and Shuili with the lake.
- The lake sits in a basin landscape with surrounding mountains and streams. That setting gives the shore a highland feel rather than a flat lowland one.
- Lalu Island divides the water into two named forms. The crescent and sun shapes are part of the lake’s visual identity.
- Shuishe, Xiangshan, Wenwu Temple and Ci En Pagoda are among the named places around the shore. The bikeway between Shuishe and Xiangshan is a clear way to read the lakeside geography.
Searching for Riyue Tan on social platforms
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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 is the lake known internationally as Sun Moon Lake.
What does a visit involve?
The place centres on the lake, its shore roads and the linked stops around it. Rail and bus connections run through Taichung, with routes towards Yuchi and the scenic area.
What makes Riyue Tan distinctive?
Lalu Island divides the lake into two visible halves, one crescent-shaped and one sun-like. The surrounding mountains, streams and shoreline landmarks give the place a clear lake-landscape character.
