Sun Moon Lake Ropeway Ticket

What it is

The Sun Moon Lake Ropeway (日月潭纜車) is a gondola cable car system in Nantou County, Taiwan, linking Ita Thao Pier at the lake's southeastern shore to the Guanshan Building at the top of the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village theme park. The line spans 1.877 km and carries passengers in one of 86 cabins — each fitting up to 8 people — at speeds of up to 6 m/s. The gondolas are painted in three colors — red (sun), yellow (moon), and blue (lake) — that mirror the landmark they overlook and also carry meaning in Aboriginal culture: red for happiness, yellow for a healthy LOHAS lifestyle, and blue for ecology. Between tower pillars T7 and T8 the cable dips into a valley shaped like a smile, aptly named 'Smiley Valley', which frames the best panoramic views of Sun Moon Lake and the mountains beyond. Standard cabins and glass-bottomed cabins are both available, the latter adding a transparent floor for an extra rush.

Highlights

• Smiley Valley viewpoint — between pillars T7 and T8 the cable sags into a natural valley, framing the widest unobstructed panorama of Sun Moon Lake and the Puli Basin below
• Tri-color gondolas (red, yellow, blue) — each color symbolizes the sun, moon, and lake respectively, and also represents Aboriginal cultural values of happiness, wellness, and ecology
• Glass-bottomed cabins — select gondolas have transparent floors, letting you look straight down at the forest canopy and lake surface for an exhilarating ride
• High capacity with short waits — the system moves up to 3,000 passengers per hour per direction, so queues typically stay short even on busy weekends
• Seamless entry to Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village — the upper station deposits you directly into the park, where rides and exhibits explore the culture of Taiwan's 16 Indigenous peoples
• Ita Thao departure point — the lower station is a 5–10 minute walk from Ita Thao Pier and the lakeside pedestrian street, making it easy to combine with a boat ride or the lakeshore walking trail

Good to know

• Typical ride time is around 7–10 minutes each way; allow 20–30 minutes total including boarding if you're riding round trip without entering the park
• Operating hours are typically 10:30–16:00 on weekdays and 10:00–16:30 on weekends and public holidays — confirm current hours on the official ropeway website before visiting
• Purchasing a full-admission ticket to Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village usually includes unlimited ropeway rides, making it better value if you plan to explore the park