Cycling is one of the best reasons to come to Sun Moon Lake (日月潭). A bikeway runs along the shore in sections, the hilly lake road makes a full lap for stronger riders, and Giant (捷安特), the Taiwanese bike maker whose flagship store is in Taichung, has a rental station right where the bus from Taichung stops. Most people ride the easy Xiangshan section; some come back for the lap, or for a guided Giant tour that takes in the lake.
- Rentals Giant Sun Moon Lake Station, ground floor of the Shuishe shopping complex; 07:00 to 18:00 November to April, 06:00 to 18:00 May to October; closed Thursdays
- Full lap About 30 km and three and a half hours, mostly on the lake road with car traffic, with four steep stretches
- Easy ride The Xiangshan section, Shuishe to Xiangshan Visitor Center, about 3.4 km and 30 minutes each way
- Best time Early morning; the scenic area asks riders not to ride at night
Getting there: take bus 6670 from Taichung to the Sun Moon Lake stop at Shuishe (水社). → Getting to Sun Moon Lake from Taichung
Renting a Giant bike
Giant Sun Moon Lake Station (捷安特日月潭站) opened in 2008 on the ground floor of the Shuishe shopping complex (水社綜合商場), 1F, No. 163, Zhongshan Road, a short walk from the 6670 bus stop and Shuishe Pier. It is the only Giant rental station at the lake. Giant lists it as open 07:00 to 18:00 from November to April and 06:00 to 18:00 from May to October, closed every Thursday, and gives 16:00 as the latest pickup for a same-day rental. Phone 049-285-6713.
It rents city and sport bikes, road bikes up to carbon models with electronic shifting, e-bikes, children's bikes for riders about 110 to 140 cm tall, and an e-bike with a child seat. These are the prices on Giant's rental site for bikes picked up and returned at Sun Moon Lake:
| Bike | 2 hours | 3 hours | Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Children's and youth bikes | NT$200 | NT$300 | NT$400 |
| Sport and city bikes (Escape, Alight, iNeed) | NT$300 | NT$400 | NT$500 |
| Road bikes, mechanical shifting (TCR, Langma, Propel) | NT$700 | NT$1,000 | NT$1,300 |
| Road bikes, electronic shifting | NT$1,000 | NT$1,300 | NT$1,600 |
| E-bikes (Fast SR E+, Aimez SR E+) | NT$1,000 | NT$1,200 | NT$1,400 |
| Small-wheel e-bike (Espresso E+), Xiangshan section only | NT$350 | NT$550 | NT$750 |
| E-bike with child seat (MIYA E+), Xiangshan section only | NT$500 | NT$700 | NT$900 |
Before you go:
- Bring ID. No ID, no bike; foreign visitors need their passport. The scenic area's listing for the station says no deposit is taken. Some older Chinese-language blog posts mention a credit card hold on the dearer bikes, which we could not confirm, so carry a card anyway.
- Booking. Walk-ins are fine, but people who booked get first pick. Book on Giant's rental site (Giant Adventure); Giant suggests a week ahead. Sun Moon Lake is one of three Giant stations where you can also pay in the shop. Same-day cancellations are not refunded, except for bad weather.
- Return to Shuishe. Giant says the Sun Moon Lake station does not do one-way rentals, so you can't drop the bike at another Giant shop.
- What's included. The scenic area lists a helmet, bottled water, a lock and roadside help round the lake. Giant asks you to wear the helmet. Rental does not include insurance, and Giant charges 50 to 70 percent of a new bike's price for damage.
- Age. E-bike riders must be 15 or over and with an adult. Under-20s need a parent's consent form.
- Lap certificate. Rent here, ride the full lap, show your Strava track, and the station gives you a certificate.
Other rentals
If Giant is closed (Thursdays) or busy, Merida's Xiangshan Bike Rental Plaza (向山租車休閒廣場), No. 592, Zhongshan Road, by the Xiangshan Visitor Center, opens 08:30 to 17:30 on the scenic area's list. The same list has smaller bike and e-bike shops on Zhongshan and Zhongxing Roads in Shuishe and on Riyue Street in Ita Thao; check their hours before you count on them. There is no YouBike at the lake: YouBike's station list has no stations in Nantou County. (YouBike is handy back in the city. → YouBike in Taichung)
The bikeway, section by section
The Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area splits the lakeside bikeway into sections. Distances and times are one way, from its bike site:
| Section | From and to | Distance | Time | What it's like |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xiangshan (向山段) | Shuishe to Xiangshan Visitor Center | About 3.4 km | About 30 min | Gentle and easy, with a 400 m stretch built out over the water. Slow down or walk the downhill bends near the Yongjie and Tongxin bridges. |
| Shuishe (水社段) | Shuishe Pier to Songbolun | About 3.4 km | About 40 min | A steady climb past Chaowu Pier and Jiulongkou, steeper from the Fleur de Chine hotel up to Wenwu Temple. |
| Songbolun (松柏崙段) | Songbolun to Dazhuhu | About 1.5 km | About 20 min | Partly on the public road, with downhills and moss that gets slippery. |
| Ita Thao (伊達邵段) | Shuiwatou to Ita Thao Pier | Short | About 10 min | Flat and easy; past Ita Thao Pier, the 600 m Dakelaha water bikeway (opened September 2023) runs on to the ropeway station. |
| Yuetan (月潭段) | Xiangshan Visitor Center to Lake Tunnel No. 1 | About 3.4 km | About 40 min | The hilliest section. From Moon Bay to the tunnel mouth riding is not allowed: walk your bike. |
One more rule: the scenic area asks you to get off and walk across the wooden boardwalk at Shuishe Dam (水社壩).
An easy half day: Shuishe to Xiangshan
If you only ride once, make it this one. Pick up a bike in Shuishe, follow the shore past Shuishe Dam and over the water bikeway to the Xiangshan Visitor Center (向山遊客中心), then ride back the same way. That is about 7 km there and back; Giant's own suggested version of this ride is about 6 km and two hours. A city bike is plenty; the small-wheel e-bike and the child-seat e-bike are only allowed on this stretch.
Bike and boat: the 12 km half loop
The scenic area suggests a route that uses the boat for the second half: ride from Shuishe past Chaowu Pier, Jiulongkou and Wenwu Temple, through Songbolun to Ita Thao, along the Dakelaha water bikeway to the ropeway station, then board a boat with your bike at Ita Thao Pier (伊達邵碼頭) back to Shuishe Pier (水社碼頭). It is about 12 km and two to three hours. The scenic area doesn't publish a fare for the bike, so ask at the pier ticket booth before you buy. → Sun Moon Lake boats
The full lap
The whole way round is about 30 km and about three and a half hours on the scenic area's figures. It suggests riding clockwise from Xiangshan: Xiangshan, Shuishe, Wenwu Temple, the ropeway station, Ita Thao and back to Xiangshan. The bikeway only covers parts of it; the rest is on Route 21 (台21線) and Route 21A (台21甲線), shared with cars, tour buses and scooters. Ride single file, keep right and keep your distance. The scenic area names four steep stretches:
- Route 21, km 66 to 69, between Xiangshan and Toushe.
- Route 21A, km 0 to 1.5, from the Jiulong junction up to Wenwu Temple.
- Route 21A, km 7.5 to 13.5, from Ita Thao to Xuanguang Temple pier.
- Route 21A, km 17.5 to 19.5, from Lake Tunnel No. 1 to Toushe.
On the long descents, the scenic area suggests braking in short, light pulls on both brakes together. An e-bike makes the lap far easier for most visitors; with ECO assist Giant puts the range at about 70 km, which covers it comfortably.
For strong riders
The scenic area points experienced riders to the hilly ride from Puli (埔里) to the lake, through rice fields and valley roads, and to rides out to Shuili, Checheng and the Jiji Green Tunnel. Giant's two-day tour (below) links them: up to the lake from Jiji and Shuili, and down County Road 131 to Checheng.
Good to know: the Dazhuhu (大竹湖) parking lot and trail entrance are closed for works on the Dazhuhu east bikeway link, from 15 May 2025. The notice's title gives the end as 31 January 2027 and its text says 31 December 2026, so check before you plan the Songbolun section. On Saturday 14 November 2026 a fireworks show brings traffic controls round the lake from 08:00 to 23:00; ride another day if you can.
Taking your own bike
- Bus 6670 from Taichung: the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle takes folding bikes packed in a bike bag, free in the luggage hold, or for a half fare if the bike takes a seat. It says nothing about full-size bikes, so plan to rent one at the lake.
- Lake boats: the scenic area's bike-and-boat route has riders board at Ita Thao Pier with their bikes. Ask about the bike fare when you buy the ticket.
- Bus 6669 round the lake: we could not find an official rule on bikes, so don't count on it.
Giant tours that include Sun Moon Lake
Giant Adventure (捷安特旅行社), Giant's travel company, is based at Giant's flagship store in Xitun, Taichung, and runs guided cycling tours round Taiwan. Three of its tours take in Sun Moon Lake:
- E+ Bike: Sun Moon Lake, Ershui and Jiji bikeways, 2 days. Meets at 09:30 outside Exit 3 of HSR Changhua Station. Day 1 is 63 km on the Ershui bikeway, through the Jiji Green Tunnel and Shuili and up to the lake, with a night at Shuishe. Day 2 is 90 km: a morning by the lake towards Ita Thao and along the Xiangshan bikeway, then down County Road 131 past Checheng and back to Tianzhong, finishing at HSR Changhua around 17:00. Giant e-bikes only. NT$7,800 per person in a twin room, NT$9,100 in a single, for departures on 9 December 2026 (sign up by 15 November) and 29 December 2026 (by 5 December); each needs a minimum number of riders to go ahead.
- E+ Bike West to Wuling, 3 days. Starts at Giant's Taichung flagship store and rides to Gaomei Wetlands on day 1, rides the Sun Moon Lake lap from Giant's station on day 2, then climbs from Cingjing to Wuling (3,275 m) on day 3, ending at HSR Taichung Station. From NT$19,900. No dates were listed when we checked; it is open to private group bookings.
- E+ Bike Taiwan north to south, 7 days. A hard 615 km mountain ride from Fuguijiao Lighthouse to Eluanbi on e-bikes, for riders with climbing experience. Day 3 climbs to Wuling and ends with a night at Sun Moon Lake; day 4 leaves the lake on the New Central Cross-Island Highway (Route 21) for Tataka. From NT$57,800, with departures listed on 13 December 2026 and 13 March 2027.
The tours include the bike and helmet, a support van, repairs, snacks, the listed meals and hotel, a guide and travel liability insurance; getting to the start is up to you. Sign up as a member on the Giant Adventure site, then pay a deposit or the full price within three days; phone (04) 2311-7979, Monday to Friday 09:00 to 17:30. Giant's nine-day round-Taiwan tours don't include Sun Moon Lake on their current itineraries. For a self-guided day, the Sun Moon Lake station also offers route planning, guided rides and a support van; ask the station.
Cycling events in 2026
- Come!BikeDay (Sun Moon Lake bike festival): Saturday 21 November 2026, 06:30 to 16:00, at the Xiangshan Visitor Center. A 30 km lap challenge and a 20 km bike-and-boat challenge (NT$350 each), a 10 km Color Ride on the Xiangshan, Shuishe and Songbolun sections (NT$350), a kids' balance bike race for ages 3 to 10 (NT$200) and a market. Sign-up closes early when places run out.
- Four Seasons ride certificate: ride the lap on your own any day from 1 October to 31 December 2026, spend at least NT$100 at the lake, take photos at three set spots, and upload your track to get the winter medal at the Xiangshan Visitor Center. Medals are limited each month (280 for November, 280 for December).
- L'Étape by Tour de France: the Sun Moon Lake edition ran in October 2026 with about 2,700 riders on 103 km and 28 km courses, and the organizers say it returns next year. The 2027 date isn't out yet. Sun Moon Lake was also named a Tour de France "Cycle City" in 2026.
Dates and fees change: check before you go.
Practical tips
- Go early. Giant opens at 07:00 (06:00 in summer), well before the first bus from Taichung arrives, and the morning is cooler and quieter on the road. Plan to be off the lake road well before dark; the scenic area asks riders not to ride at night.
- Heat and water. The scenic area warns about dehydration and heatstroke; drink and eat regularly, and bring sunglasses and gloves as Giant suggests.
- Rain. The bikeway gets slippery, especially the mossy stretches near Songbolun and Moon Bay. Giant waives its cancellation charge for bad weather.
- Helmets. Wear one; Giant requires it on its bikes and lends them at this station.
- Lights. The lap passes tunnels on the lake road, so a front and rear light is worth having; ask the rental shop.
- Thursdays. Giant's station is closed, so rent from Xiangshan or another shop.
Make a weekend of it: → Where to stay at Sun Moon Lake · Sun Moon Lake in 2 days · Things to do at Sun Moon Lake · Sun Moon Lake
Sources
Giant Sun Moon Lake Station address, hours, services and lap certificate from Giant Adventure's station page; prices from its bikes and fees listing for the Sun Moon Lake station; booking, ID, helmets and return times from its rental guide; one-way rentals, Thursday closing, in-shop payment, damage, e-bike range and age rules from its rental FAQ. Tours, prices, dates, inclusions and booking from Giant Adventure's tour pages for the 2-day Sun Moon Lake tour, the 3-day Wuling tour and the 7-day north-to-south tour and its tour list. Deposit, ID and included kit from the Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area's Giant listing; other shops from its bike rental list. Sections, the lap, steep stretches, the bike-and-boat route, other routes and safety advice from the scenic area's bike site: overview, full lap, the Xiangshan, Shuishe, Songbolun, Ita Thao and Yuetan sections, the bike-and-boat route, other routes and safety. Come!BikeDay from the scenic area's event page and the registration page; the ride certificate from its 2026 notice. The Dazhuhu closure from the scenic area's works notice; the fireworks traffic control from its notice. Folding bikes on bus 6670 from the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Sun Moon Lake Line page. No Nantou stations in YouBike's station list. L'Étape 2026 and the Cycle City title from Commercial Times (8 October 2026). Checked November 2026.