Neighboring Tourist Sites

13. Hsitou

　The Hsitou Forest Recreation Area is situated on the flanks of Mt. Fenghuang in Luku township, covering an area of more than 2,500 hectares at an elevation that varies around 1,150 meters. The area boosts comprehensive tourist facilities as well as the following major sightseeing spots:

A.Bamboo specimen area:
　This area contains species of bamboo collected from all over Taiwan, as well as 46 rare species from throughout the world. This in itself is worth a special visit.

B.Gingko grove:
　This beautiful forest is the only substantial gingko grove left in Taiwan. Gingkos require three generations before they bear fruit, so they are also called "grand-father-grandson trees." They are a type of gymnosperm plant left over from the geologic eras.

C.Fir forest bath:
　The oxygen-rich air that is produced by coniferous trees through the process of photosynthesis makes a walk through the forest here a highly invigorating experience.

D.University Pond:
　The exquisite scenery of this site is further embellished by an arched bamboo bridge over the water.

Hsitou

Le Midi Hotel Chitou 1 Midi St., Neihu village, Luku town, Nantou Tel:(049)612-088, Fax:(049)612-283	Single	Twin	Suite	Total rooms
	NT$	NT$	NT$
	4800 ︱ 5000	5200 ︱ 6000	12,000 ︱ 200,000	245
Chi Tou Hotel 10 Senlin Lane, Neihu village, Luku town, Nantou Tel:(049)612-113, Fax:(049)612-106	1000 ︱ 1500	1500 ︱ 1700	2000 ︱ 3000	250
Feng Huang Hotel 10-1 Senlin Lane, Neihu village, Luku town, Nantou Tel:(049)612-114	900∼1300			33
Hsiao Hsitou Country Hotel 555 Chungcheng Rd., Sec.3, Luku town, Nantou Tel:(049)755-611, Fax:(049)755-615	2500 ︱ 3600	3000 ︱ 4000	3880 ︱ 4280	123
Ming Shan Villa 2-3 Hsingchan Rd., Neihu village, Luku town, Nantou Tel:(049)612-121/3, Fax:(049)612-219	1000 ︱ 1200	1200 ︱ 1500	2000 ︱ 2500	200
Hsitou Youth Activity Center 15 Senlin Lane, Neihu village, Luku town, Nantou Tel:(049)612-160/3, Fax:(049)612-322	─	800 ︱ 1500	1000 ︱ 2200	66

14. Shanlinhsi

　Further into the mountains from Hsitou is Shanlinhsi. This privately operated forest recreation area has an elevation around 1,600 meters; it boasts a large number of old-style buildings, and its cool, crisp climate makes it a popular vacation spot.

　--Phoenix Valley Bird Park: This 30-hectare park consists of a large natural forest filled with more than 5,000 birds of 300-plus species, all of which live freely in this valley. The walk through the park is 2 kilometers long.

Shanlinhsi

Shanlinhsi Hotel 6 Hsishan Rd., Chushan town, Nantou Tel:(049)612-211, Fax:(049)612-216	Single	Twin	Suite	Total rooms
	NT$	NT$	NT$
	1000∼2600			580

15. Tungpu hot springs

　The village of Tungpu is located in the mountains of Nantou county at an elevation of 1,200 meters, and is a popular spot for beating the heat of summer. The clear mineral springs here can be used for drinking or bathing, which is said to beautify the skin. Nearby are a number of well-known tourist spots, including Chienlung Waterfall and Father-and-Son Cliff.

Tungpu

Sheng Hua Hotel 60 Kaikao Lane, Tungpu village, Nantou Tel:(049)701-511, Fax:(049)701-903	Single	Twin	Suite	Total rooms
	NT$	NT$	NT$
	1500	1700	2200	100
Tung-Pu Hotel 70-2 Kaikao Lane, Tungpu village, Nantou Tel:(049)701-090, Fax:(049)701-092	1500	2400∼3000	-	55
Ti Lun Hotel 86 Kaikao Lane, Tungpu village, Nantou Tel:(049)701-616/8, Fax:(049)701-360	2000	3000	5000	80

16. New Central Cross-Island Highway

　This road reaches from Shuili through Tingkao to Tatachia (at an elevation of 2,610 meters), a distance of 75 kilometers. As it ascends from the flatlands to the high mountain altitudes, the road passes through various climatic regions and past scenery that changes as the elevation increases. It provides a beautiful study of nature --especially in December, when the plum trees blossom.

17. Sun Moon Lake

　This lake is nestled in the mountains of the Shuishe village area at an elevation of 748 meters. The lake has a single tiny islet, Kuanghua Island, which divides it into two parts: one to the south with a crescent moon shape, and one to the north with a round sun shape. These shapes are the origin of the lake's name. On the shores of the lake are various tourist sites, including the large Wenwu Temple, Peacock Garden, Hsuanchuang Temple, and an aborigine village. Visitors can enjoy the surrounding scenery while rowing boats on the mirror-like surface of the lake.

Sun Moon Lake

Chinatrust Hotel (Sun Moon Lake) 23 Chungcheng Rd., Sun Moon Lake, Nantou Tel:(049)855-911, Fax:(049)855-268	Single	Twin	Suite	Total rooms
	NT$	NT$	NT$
	2800∼2900	3100∼3800	5000∼10000	116
Evergreen Hostel 142 Chungcheng Rd., Sun Moon Lake, Nantou Tel:(049)855-311, Fax:(049)855-314	-	1200∼3300	5000∼10000 ︱ 10000	130
Huan Hu Hotel 1 Mingsheng St., Sun Moon Lake, Nantou Tel:(049)855-341	1000∼2000			45
Sun Moon Lake Teachers Hostel 136 Chungcheng Rd., Sun Moon Lake, Nantou Tel:(049)855-991, Fax:(049)855-419	1000∼1400	1000∼1400	2700	111
Sun Moon Lake Youth Activity Center 101 Chungcheng Rd., Sun Moon Lake, Nantou Tel:(049)850-070, Fax:(049)850-037	850∼1200	2000∼4000	-	80

18. Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village

　This popular tourist attraction contains meticulous reconstructions of the buildings of Taiwan's nine existing aborigine tribes, as well as displays of their artifacts and their customs, all carefully designed and developed with the help of scholars and experts. There are also performances of aboriginal singing and dancing, which are especially interesting during the times of traditional harvest festivals. This is the best place in Taiwan to gain an insight into the lives and cultural backgrounds of the island's original inhabitants.