Sun Moon Lake Wenwu Temple

日月潭文武廟

A northern-style palace temple on the lakeside slope, dedicated to both Confucius and Guan Yu. The 366-step 'Year Stairs' and the view over Sun Moon Lake from the top are the highlights.

Wenwu Temple sits on the hillside on the north shore of Sun Moon Lake. In 1938, the hydroelectric project that raised the lake's water level flooded two older temples on the shore, so they were merged and relocated here. It was rebuilt in its present northern palace style in 1969 and is the largest temple along the lakeside road.

The temple has three halls stepping up the slope. The front hall honors the founding ancestor and the Wenchang Emperor. The middle Martial Saint Hall honors Guan Yu and Yue Fei. The rear Hall of Great Perfection honors Confucius. It is rare in Taiwan to find a temple that honors both Confucian and Daoist deities. The golden glazed tiles, vermilion pillars, and a pair of giant stone lions in front of the hall, the largest in Taiwan and donated by the Shin Kong Group (nicknamed the 'Red Lion'), are very eye-catching.

The 'Year Stairs' lead from the temple down to the lakeside pier, with 366 steps. Each step is engraved with the name of a famous person born on that day, along with a motto. Visitors often take photos at the step matching their own birthday and hang blessing wind chimes. From the viewing platform beside the rear hall, you can look over the north basin of Sun Moon Lake and Lalu Island, one of the best high vantage points around the lake. Admission is free.

Visiting tips: Circle the lake clockwise starting from Shuishe. Wenwu Temple is the first stop, so allow about 45 minutes. You can take a lake boat to the Wenwu Temple pier and climb the Year Stairs to the temple, or take the lake loop bus and get off at the 'Wenwu Temple' stop to go straight in. Getting there: Take the Sun Moon Lake loop bus (Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Route 6669 and others) to the 'Wenwu Temple' stop. Cycling from Shuishe is about 5 km, but there are slopes. Notes: The Year Stairs are steep and long, so visitors with limited stamina can enter the temple from the top. Loud noise and taking photos of the deity statues at will are prohibited inside. Parking fills up on holidays, so taking the bus is recommended.

Sun Moon Lake Wenwu Temple

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