TAIWAN TRANQUILITY
10/5/2007 9:15:18 AM by Yoshi Sanz
Located in the heart of perhaps one of the most mystical and enchanting places on the planet, The Lalu overlooking Taiwan’s storied Sun Moon Lake promises to be an escape from the everyday you won’t soon forget.
Photos courtesy of Design Hotels
Who knew paradise was 3,500 feet above sea level? Apparently, the Chinese did. Since 1901, The Lalu hotel has overlooked a panorama of the mystical Sun Moon Lake and its surrounding mountaintops.
Named after the indigenous Shao aboriginal settlement that was located on the hotel’s site, The Lalu was once the favorite summer getaway of President Chiang Kai Shek and at one point served as the Hanbi Palace. But it has only been a few years since recent renovations and additions by Kerry Hill Architects have resurrected the property and attracted a savvy international clientele bringing people from almost every continent to this secret hideaway.
Within its 98 rooms, suites and private villas with individual swimming pools, courtyards, pavilions and fireplaces, The Lalu, now part of the Design Hotels portfolio, features zen-esque design and architecture throughout as well as a relaxing mesh of the indoors with the outdoors. Located 1.5 hours from the Taichung Domestic Airport and 3.5 hours from Chiang Kai Shek International, the ride to The Lalu is almost as impressive as the hotel itself.
When making reservations or checking in at The Lalu, it doesn’t matter where your room is: Every room boasts a view. But in order to experience that lake in person, you have to walk down a series of steps and a red-brick trail to the pier. The mild trek is well worth it, and promises tons of photo ops from multiple angles. And keep in mind: Swimming in the lake’s sacred waters is prohibited, so a “Look, but don’t touch” rule is firmly in effect.
When hunger strikes, food at this world-class retreat is in no shortage. For starters, as part of the room rate, you get a filling buffet breakfast including a variety of both Asian and Western foods as well as daily in-room fresh fruits and snack baskets. The in-room offers are complemented by five restaurants and bars serving western and Asian delicacies. Among them is The Oriental Brasserie Restaurant which serves contemporary Chinese and western cuisine and boasts a revolving menu that is sure to feature something for any taste, each day of the week. The Chinese Teahouse showcases a tea for every mood and the adjacent bar and lounge has mixed libations to get the night off to a great start — or finish. Just make sure to ignore the per-person minimum stated on the menus when staying at the hotel — since the restaurant is open to the public, those fees are only for restaurant guests who are not staying at The Lalu.
For a relaxing escape from the air-conditioned and wood-laden confines of your suite, the hotel’s spa comes with an extensive range of organic treatments including hot-rock massages and full-body treatments, all with full views of the lake. The 197-foot swimming pool also boasts prime views and an infinity effect that will make you feel like your swimming in the lake even though you’re hundreds of feet above it.
If you want to set out and explore the surrounding area, you might want to consider taking a ferry tour of the island in the middle of the lake. The small island is used by the Shao people to worship their ancestors. The hour-long excursion should leave enough time for you to venture out on some of the scenic treks in and around the surrounding mountains. The three-mile Mt. Maolan Trail will lead you through the Assam black tea farm, among other stops. The nearby Peacock Garden and Butterfly Museum also provide unforgettable sights and encounters with nature. If you opt for a more historic tour, the Wen-Wu Temple along the lakeside Hanbi Trail is highly recommended. This is the place where Confucius and the martial gods of Guangong and Yuehfei are worshipped. Nocturnal delights include an unforgettable view of the illuminated Tsen pagoda across the lake and lakeside star-gazing.
So if you’ve been in search of paradise at sea level, you may just have to tilt your head up and ascend a few thousand feet to find it. Just don’t go too far up or you might end up in Heaven.
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| LAKE OF DREAMS We take a glimpse at Taiwan’s largest and most popular lake to fill you in on all the adventures to be had throughout the lake’s ancient surroundings. Playing off of nature’s ultimate ying-yang icons, Sun Moon Lake is Taiwan’s largest and most popular body of water. In ancient times, the area surrounding the lake was known as “Shuishalian,” meaning “Where water and sand meet.” Today, the lake is hugged by mountains on the east and plains on the west. The name comes from the fact that the eastern part of the lake is round like the sun and the western part is shaped like a crescent moon. Since its creation, Sun Moon Lake has quadrupled in depth and doubled in surface area due to the construction of several hydroelectric powerplants that have been built in the area since 1919. To help you tour all of this history, there are several natural hiking trails in proximity to the lake. On these trails, you can ascend to the green mountaintops, overlook scenic peaks, bird watch and glance at the blue-green waters below. Note: Swimming in Sun Moon Lake is prohibited, although every year there’s an annual race called the “Swimming Carnival of Sun Moon Lake” that attracts tens of thousands of participants as well as laser and fireworks displays and concerts. The lake and its adjacent countryside have been designated one of 13 National Scenic Areas in Taiwan, providing just one more reason to visit. For more information on Sun Moon Lake and traveling to Taiwan, go to TaiwanTourism.org. |
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The Lalu
142 Jungshing Road,
Sun Moon Lake
Nantou County, R.O.C 555
Reservations@DesignHotels.com
TaiwanRes@DesignHotels.com