Wenwu Temple (文武廟), Nantou County of Sun Moon Lake - Taiwan

Visited the Wenwu Temple (文武廟) (N23.86960 E120.92685) after the Lake Cruise. There were many stalls in front of the temple selling souvenirs and local foods...

Before we step into the temple, I was attracted by this staircase...it was Full of little lantern bell on the both sides...

The staircase was locked with grill door and it's not accessible for public...and there was a write up about it beside the door...

"Getting to Wenwu Temple in earlier days was not so convenient as it is now; there was no round-the-lake road, and visitors had to take a boat to the pier below the temple and then climb up a lot of steps. Because the slope was so steep, the steps were called the "Stairway to Heaven". Now the steps are not needed to get to the temple, and they have been renovated into a 150-meter path with 366 steps the symbolize the 366 days in a leap year. The name of a historical personage is carved on each step, and the steps also incorporate the 24 bells on the two sides of the steps; the bells chime in the wind adding much to the romantic atmosphere. If you want to hang your own bell, ask the temple official how to do it."

The Little Lantern Bell

"The Wenwu Temple was established in BC1812, which was meant to be a place for youth people advocating the loyalty and learning martial arts. The Wen Shrine worships the Wenchang Dijun while the Wu Temple worships the Guansheng Dijun. Two temples lines each other in a wall. In that, the two are together called Wenwu Temple." You can read more about the history of the temple here.

The temple is guarded with 2 big Red Lions on both side

I was really attracted by the stone and wood carved within the temple! Amazing! You can see the nice wood carved at the roof before you step in...it's all over everywhere in the temple.

The two tigers beside the temple

The first hall of the temple...

There are total 3 main halls in the temple...we visited one by one slowly...

And we continue to the second hall...it was full of the little lantern bells again!

The second hall

The Little Lantern Bell

Beautiful stone carved

The decoration was very nice! And we slowly proceed to the third hall...

Behind the third hall, there was still some construction work carried on, I believe the restoration of the temple has not complete yet. But the stone carved was Awesome! It's all about Confucius.

We climbed up to the highest point of the temple just to snapped some nice photos about the temple...

The roofs of the temples

I can't post all the photos of the temple, because there are about 100 photos taken...
If you like to take nice photo of the temple, try to visit it on sunny day.

We hanged around the temple about 45 minutes and everyone were hungry...and we started the food hunt again! :)

The Wenwu Temple of Sun Moon Lake - Taiwan

Related post :-
*  My Taiwan Trip on May, 2011

Location map of Wenwu Temple at Sun Moon Lake - Taiwan

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Millet Wine Museum (小米酒博物馆) at Ita Thao Village, Sun Moon Lake - Taiwan

The Millet Museum (小米酒博物馆) (N23.848113 E120.93303) is located along the main road of Ita Thao Village. You will notice many signage about the direction to the museum.

Millet Wine Museum

I like these three big Millet Wine Display!

Once we stepped in, there were whole roll of Millet Wine along the pathway...

And each of them are display with the write up...

The Millet vinegar

Beside the wines, there were also many antiques in the museum...some of items were really look familiar to me...

The Millet truck

My father had one of these type of wooden radio before...I miss it Very much!

The plate where the Ita Thao Aborigines use for fruits

The Grandfather Clock

The bicycle (below) triggered my childhood memory. My grandpa used it to tour me around the village! Oh! I miss those days SO much!

The antique bicycle

The dynamo which I like to played with...those days...

The bicycle seat...which I Never have a chance to sit on it because I was just a small kid...those days...

Then follow the detail report of the Taiwan Earthquake (21st September, 1999)
If you can read Chinese...

The changes of the mountain after the quake

A short brief of the Aborigines - Ita Thao

We hanged around the Museum for about 30 minutes and continue our tour in the Ita Thao Village of Sun Moon Lake.

The Millet

Related post :-
*  My Taiwan Trip on May, 2011

The Location Map of Millet Wine Museum of Ita Thao Village

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Ita Thao Village (伊達邵) of Sun Moon Lake - Taiwan

After the Syuanguang Pier, we jumped into the ferry and proceed to our next destination - Ita Thao Village (N23.84904 E120.93024). While on the ferry, we passed by the Lowest Lighthouse or perhaps Highest Lighthouse in the World. It's actually just double storey height, buy it's located at the attitude of  750 meter from sea level of Sun Moon Lake.

The Lighthouse of Sun Moon Lake

Less than 10 minutes, we reached the Ita Thao Village Pier...

The Ita Thao Village Pier

I felt excited when we visited this village, and I can't really tell why...

Nice hotel spotted before we enter the village...

Entrance to Ita Thao Village

"Ita Thao is called Barawbaw in Thao language. The Han people call it North Cave. It was named Te Hua village after the restoration of Taiwan, and is under the administration of Yuchi.

Barawbaw is the last residence of the Thao people at Sun Moon Lake. On account of the continuous stream of tourists, many Han people moved here to go into trade. Therefore, Ita Thao becomes the most populous area around the Sun Moon Lake. There are stores, restaurants, and hotels in the village. Also the Thao people establishes the "Thao Cultural Village" for tourists to appreciate the traditional culture, songs, and dancing of the Thao tribe." For more information, please click here.

We chose the right route of the village to started our tour...many tourists around the village that day. The weather was Hot, so we drop by one of the stall which selling Taiwan Traditional ice tea...

The Ice Tea stall...

Friendly lady who prepared the ice tea for us...

Ice Tea of Ita Thao Village..Really refreshing!

Let me share some photos of the Ita Thao Village...

Ice Cream?!

Looks like a Museum...but it was closed that day...

Another Museum along the way...

Sun and Moon

Ita Thao young ladies spotted...

Police Station at Ita Thao Village.

Electric motorcycle for rent...

Nice and clean phonebooth, can even hide inside when heavy rain...:)

This maybe the main entrance to their residential area, we didn't step in...

We walked along the coastal area, many nice scenery along the way...the pedestrian will lead us all the way to the Cable Car Station. Too bad it was on maintenance that day! What a Second MISS!

Scenery along the coastal pedestrian...

The Cable Car Station of Ita Thao Village

Personally I like the wooden signage of the shops and even their houses...

The wooden signage of the shop, can you see the Owl? :)

After hanged around the street for an hour, we stepped into the Millet Museum (will post in next blog) & the Shopping Street of Ita Thao Village, intended to buy some souvenirs...

Signage of the Shopping Street, do you notice anything strange within the two statue?! Haha!

The Shopping Street of Ita Thao Village

Shops at both side along the street...mostly selling souvenirs and handicraft of Ita Thao.

One of the shop selling the Glass Fruits, I didn't buy it because afraid it might break in the luggage...but it was really nice especially the Glass pigs below...

I was attracted by the Owl Factory which selling all kinds of Handicraft about Owl. We bought some of it and like it very much! :)

The Owl Factory

Ita Thao's Recipes...

We ran up and down at the shopping street and bargain like a 'aunties at the market' for every souvenirs shop! Haha!


The boatman explained about the village and the peoples during our way back to Shuishe Pier...

"The Ita Thao peoples are the 'expensive' peoples in Taiwan. There are Only left 282 (pure blood) Ita Thao peoples in Taiwan, and they are welcome any man who like to become the Ita Thao husband. The conditions were very attractive! According to the boatman, once you fill up the form, your bank account will automatically receive a welcome fund that's about TWD60,000.00 from Taiwan Government. And men are no need to work in the village, all the expenses of every family will be subsidize monthly by Taiwan Government included their children school fees all the way to University. (During this time, many guys on the boat put up their hands! Haha!)"

"The Only duty on men in the village is to 'Drink!' They will have some ceremonies or events every Saturday, and all the men job is to get drunk during that day! Sound Interesting?!
And the boatman continue...BUT, most of the men here cannot live more than 50 years old because of their Kidney failure due to overloaded alcohol! OMG!! Every men kept their hands down Immediately! Haha!"

That was a Nice Joke!

I will be back to this Beautiful Village...

On our way back to Shuishe Pier...

Related post :-
*  My Taiwan Trip on May, 2011

Location map of Ita Thao Village, Sun Moon Lake - Taiwan

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