Typhoon Champi closes Sun Moon Lake trails from 23 October
Published on 10/24/2026 at 18:09 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSAccess changes after Typhoon Champi
- Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Headquarters began precautionary closures on 23 October 2026.
- Typhoon Champi prompted restrictions at Shuishe and Ita Thao piers, visitor centres, trails and cycling paths.
- Sun Moon Lake lies in Yuchi Township, Nantou County, within central Taiwan.
Sun Moon Lake in Nantou, Taiwan, began a precautionary closure on 23 October 2026 after Typhoon Champi affected the area. The Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Headquarters said the restrictions would remain in place until a further announcement, leaving several core lakeside sights unavailable to visitors.
Typhoon Champi closes key Sun Moon Lake access points
The authority announced the change on 22 October, with the closure taking effect on 23 October. Its notice names the storm as the reason for the safety controls and lists attractions, piers, visitor centres, trails and cycling sections across the scenic area.
At Ita Thao, the closure covers Ita Thao Pier, the visitor centre, the lakeside trail and the section of the Sun Moon Lake Bikeway leading towards the cable-car station. At Shuishe, the affected places include Shuishe Pier, Chaowu Pier, the Shuishe commercial area and the Shuishe section of the cycling route. The notice also includes Xuanguang Pier, Xuanguang Temple, Xuanzang Temple, Shuiwatou Trail and Cien Pagoda with its trail.
The official closure notice says that the restrictions apply from 23 October until a further announcement. It also records a separate change to the 2026 Nantou Sun Moon Lake International SUP Crossing Carnival, originally planned for 24 October and moved to 7 November.
Why the closure affects the lake experience
Sun Moon Lake is not a single entrance attraction. Its visitor experience is spread around a reservoir in Yuchi Township, with viewpoints, temples, piers, trails and cycle routes forming linked sections around the shore. A closure at a pier therefore affects boat-based itineraries, while restrictions on trails and bikeways remove several ways of reaching viewpoints on foot or by bicycle.
The operator describes the area as a combination of mountains, cycling trails and Thau cultural heritage. The official English visitor information also identifies the Shuishe, Ita Thao, Songbolun, Xiangshan and Yuetan sections of the bikeway. These named sections help explain why the 23 October notice is a broad access change rather than a restriction at one isolated lookout.
Among the places listed by the authority are the Xiangshan Administration and Visitor Center, Xiangshan Viewing Platform, Lalu Island and the Lalu Viewing Platform. The closure therefore reaches both the eastern and western visitor zones. The operator's English visitor information places the lake area in Yuchi Township, Nantou County, and describes its linked routes and cultural landscape.
Visiting Sun Moon Lake: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The closure took effect on 23 October 2026 and covers named attractions, piers, trails, visitor centres and cycling sections around Sun Moon Lake.
- Access to Shuishe Pier, Ita Thao Pier, Xuanguang Pier, several visitor centres and the listed trails is restricted until a further announcement by the scenic area authority.
- Sun Moon Lake is in Yuchi Township, Nantou County, central Taiwan. The operator identifies Shuishe and Ita Thao as connected lakeside areas within the wider scenic area.
- Travellers should not assume that a clear route around one shore provides access to a closed pier, trail or viewing platform elsewhere in the area.
- The official notice moved the 24 October 2026 SUP crossing event to 7 November 2026.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Sun Moon Lake
What has changed at Sun Moon Lake?
The scenic area authority began precautionary closures on 23 October 2026 after Typhoon Champi. The restrictions cover multiple piers, trails, visitor centres and cycling sections.
Where is Sun Moon Lake and how do you get there?
Sun Moon Lake is in Yuchi Township, Nantou County, Taiwan. The operator identifies Shuishe and Ita Thao as visitor areas connected by lakeside routes.
What happened to the SUP event at Sun Moon Lake?
The event planned for 24 October 2026 was postponed to 7 November 2026 in the authority's notice.
