Taiwan is beautiful for its mountains, rivers, lakes, among others. One of the most scenic places in Taiwan is the Sun Moon Lake. It's our pleasure to receive a good information in searching "Sun Mon Lake" from the Google.com on June 22, 2005:

Surrounded by green mountains, Sun Moon Lake is the pearl of Central Taiwan.丂Sun Moon Lake is the largest natural lake in Taiwan.丂The Eastern part of the lake is round like the sun, while the Western part is shaped like a crescent moon - hence the name "Sun Moon Lake".*1

In the middle of the lake (between the "sun" and the "moon") is an island which has long been a sacred place for the Shao people.丂This island (Lalu) is off-limits to visitors.丂Only the Shao people can go there to worship their ancestors.丂(There is a ferry that passes by it, departing every hour from 9:00 to 4:00).丂But the beauty of Sun Moon Lake is not Lalu.丂The beauty of Sun Moon Lake is found in the surrounding mountains.丂From the lake, tier upon tier of countless peaks can be seen rising up into the sky.丂The nearby mountains appear dark with vegetation.丂The mountains that echo farther and farther away appear less and less distinct until they fade into the sky.

The lake has not always looked the way it does now.丂At one time Lalu was a much larger island, a pearl separating the "Sun Lake" from the "Moon Lake".丂But in the construction of a hydroelectric power plant, the Japanese in 1934 deepened the lake by directing water from the adjacent lakes at Puli and Yuchih.丂The depth changed from 6 meters to 27 meters.丂The surface area of the lake changed from 1.8 sq miles to nearly 3 sq. miles (4.55 sq kms to 7.73 sq. kms).丂The big pearl became a little pearl.丂The Shao people were moved from their beloved Lalu to the upper Sun Moon Village.

Seven trails are available for hiking.丂Even if you choose to stay overnight at Sun Moon Lake, you might not have enough time to hike more than three of them.丂If this is the case, we suggest that you choose the Hanbi Trail, the Dachuhu Lake Trail, and the Tzuen Pagoda Trail.丂Here, in clockwise rotation, is an overview of the trails and other attractions at the lake:

Mt. Maolan Trail:

If you have the time, we highly recommend this trail.丂The trail begins across the street from the Taiwan Bus Station.丂It is less than 3 miles (4.6 km) long and is divided into two parts.丂The first part of the trail takes you to the Tea Research and Extension Station, Yuchih branch.丂It is a little over 2 miles and climbs more than 300 feet.丂Along this trail you can see the Assam black tea farm.丂They will set up a Tea Culture Exhibition Hall near their Sri Lanka style tea factory next year.

The second part of the trail takes you to the Weather Forecast Station.丂This is a shorter trail (less than a mile) but steeper.丂It climbs more than 500 feet.丂This trail takes you into a forest of indigenous conifer trees (Taiwania cryptomerioides Hay).

Hanbi Trail:

The Hanbi Palace used to be a restricted area where our famous president Chiang Kai-Shek stayed when he visited Sun Moon Lake.丂Now things are much different.丂The palace has been turned into the Lalu Hotel and the trail to the pier he loved is open to the public.丂The red brick trail is less than a mile long (1.5 km).丂It gives you a beautiful view of the lake.

Wenwu Temple:

This temple was built in 1938, combining two temples that had to be relocated when the dam was constructed.丂It was rebuilt in 1969 into the style that we see today.丂People come here to worship Confucius (the god of letters) and the martial gods Guangong and Yuehfei.丂The pair of lions in front of the temple are the largest ones in Taiwan.

Peacock Garden:

There are more than 200 peacocks and other precious gallinaceans in this free park.丂The Butterfly Museum has many butterfly specimens on display.丂There's a Butterfly Field House to breed the indigenous butterflies at the Youth Activity Center near Sun Moon Village.

Songpolun Trail:

This trail is only 2,000 feet (600 m) long.丂It used to be an ancient path that people took to go back and forth from Puli.丂Salt porters with picul sticks on their shoulders used to carry salt along this trail.丂The Songpolun Trail is biologically rich with primitive plants, insects and birds.丂A fish farm can be found at the end by the lake.

Dachuhu Trail:

Dachuhu is a waterfowl sanctuary where you can see Black-Crowned Night Herons and Little Egrets.丂The trail is only 300 feet (80 m) long.丂There is an inlet where the water of the Chuoshui River pours into Sun Moon Lake.丂A spout of water shoots up 30 feet (10m) when the lake is full.

Shueiwatou Trail:

This is a short trail - less than a third of a mile (500 m).丂It leads to a nice fishing place and a statue of 9 frogs piled on top of each other.丂In fact the name of the trail comes from this statue.

Sun Moon Village (Idashao):

The Shao People have the smallest population among the ten aboriginal tribes in Taiwan.丂Though the population is growing, they are only about 400 today.丂You can look at their wooden sculptures and handcrafts in this aboriginal village.丂You won't want to miss the chance to try their fresh seafood dishes here or on Shuishe pier.
Thao people Sun Moon Village

Totingai Trail:

This is the first place the Shao people settled in Sun Moon Lake some 400 years ago.丂Along this short (2,000 feet, 600 m) trail is information about this tribe.丂The trail is also rich in vegetation including bamboo, trees and ferns.

Hsuankuang Temple and Hsuan Tsang Temple:

If you have read the 乬Journey to the West乭 or have seen its animation, you would not forget that the protagonist was led by a monkey, a pig and an ugly general.丂In real life, Master Hsuan Tsang (605-664) did not have such a magical escort.丂He was a Chinese Buddhist scholar, translator, and author of 乬Buddhist Records of the Western World乭.丂Between the years 629 and 645 he made a pilgrimage to India in search of authentic scriptures.丂Pious, learned, and fluent in Sanskrit, he later translated the texts that he brought back with him.丂Part of his relics were kept in the Hsuankuang Temple.丂Later (1965) they were moved to the newly constructed Hsuan Tsang Temple.

Xuan Guang Temple
Hsuan Tsang Temple
Tzuen Pagoda Trail:

Tzuen Ta, the pagoda of filial virtue was built in commemoration of Madam Wang, the mother of Chiang Kai-Shek.丂It is on the top of the Mt. Sabalan.丂(An interesting fact: the mountain is at an elevation of 954 meters, so the pagoda was built 46 meters high in order to reach the elevation of 1000 meters!)丂The trail gives us a great view of the lake.丂It's less than a half mile (570 m) long and features a variety of ferns.丂Fireflies can be seen on summer nights.

Swimming in the lake is normally prohibited for safety reasons.丂But every September there is a mass cross-lake swimming event organized by the local county government and the Adult Swimming Association.丂If you are interested in this activity, you can obtain further information from the Sun Moon Lake Tourism Bureau or the Nantou County Government.丂(Click the links at the bottom).丂But be forewarned: the distance across the lake is 3,000 meters (more than 1.8 miles!).

Jump into the lake Water Canals Swim across the lake Swimming Pool

Sun Moon Lake is easy to get to.丂It is one of many wonders along the Central Cross-Island Highway.丂Other attractions include the Flame Peaks at Tasotun, the 9-21 Earthquake Museum at Nantou City (a modern multimedia museum dedicated to teaching visitors about earthquakes - especially the deadly quake of September 21, 1999), the 4 W's at Puli (Water, Wine, Women and Weather), the sheep at Chingjing Farm, and of course the great Taroko National Park.

The Flame Peaks 9-21 Quake Museum Wine Museum Chingjing Farm

If you want to learn more about Puli and other scenic spots in Nantou County, a 19-minute Windows Video made by The Lalu can be viewed online.丂It shows much of the scenery of Nantou.丂Please click "Video: The Scenery of Nantou" to see it.

The Enchanting Town of Puli Lofty Mountains and Sweet Water
Video丗 The Scenery of Nantou
Sun Moon Lake Tourism Bureau*2
Nantou County Government Service Center

Taiwan has lots of beautiful places to visit. For more information, please check: www. traveltaiwan.com*3

---------------------------------------------
References

*1. Google. 'Sun Mon Lake,' "A search of 'Sun Mon Lake' on the Google. cn," (June 16, 2006, Mountain View, California: Google.cn.
*2. Ibid.
*3. Reid, Rory; Moss, Cheryl; and Chang, Tiffany. "Resume the booming tourism for our Silver State through educational and cultural cooperation and development with foreign countires,' "Newsbrief of WBTI," (July 9, 2003), Las Vegas, Nevada: WBTI, pp. 1-3.

The following information are post through the courtesy of EnchantedLearning.com from the search of "The Great Wall, China" on the Google.com in the afternoon on April 30, 2006:

All About the Great Wall of China*2

The Great Wall of China was built over 2,000 years ago, by Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of China during the Qin (Ch'in) Dynasty (221 B.C - 206 B.C.). In Chinese the wall is called "Wan-Li Qang-Qeng" which means 10,000-Li Long Wall (10,000 Li = about 5,000 km).

After subjugating and uniting China from seven Warring States, the emperor connected and extended four old fortification walls along the north of China that originated about 700 B.C. (over 2500 years ago). Armies were stationed along the wall as a first line of defense against the invading nomadic Hsiung Nu tribes north of China (the Huns). Signal fires from the Wall provided early warning of an attack.

The Great Wall is one of the largest building construction projects ever completed. It stretches across the mountains of northern China, winding north and northwest of Beijing. It is constructed of masonry, rocks and packed-earth. It was over 5,000 km (=10,000 Li) long. Its thickness ranged from about 4.5 to 9 meters (15 to 30 feet) and was up to 7.5 meters (25 feet) tall.

During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Great Wall was enlarged to 6,400 kilometers (4,000 miles) and renovated over a 200 year period, with watch-towers and cannons added.

The Great Wall can be seen from Earth orbit, but, contrary to legend, is not visible from the moon, according to astronauts Neil Armstrong, Jim Lovell, and Jim Irwin.*3

---------------------------------------------
References

*1. PAI is the initial of Public Administration Institution of Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI).
*2. Enchanted Learning. 'A profile of The Great Wall,' "A search of 'The Great Wall, China' on the Google.com," (April 30, 2006), Mountain View, California: Google.com.
*3. Ibid.

Google.cn and Google.com published this section (Taiwan Benevolent Association of America) at 11:18 a.m. in the morning on March 23, 2006. It covers about the 25 fliers from January 7, 2006 to March 21, 2006.

Just type your name, the title of a report or an article, your concerned, the name of an organization, an event, or a reporter;{like "Chairperson Elaine Chao", "驸彫棖", "婰幰錀椊壝", and among others) on the searching box of Google.cn and Google.com please, and what can you find the good things that Google and WBTI have for you?*2

Many people have a good perspective on Google. Google.cn and Google.com will put more effort and wisdom to contribute to English and Chinese readers being an efficient visitor on the searching of fluent and useful information. Washington Business and Technology Institute's (WBTI's) website has been continuously published by Google.com and Google.cn about every 11 days. We wish advanced performance may be extended from Google.cn to WBTI.*3

You're on Google.cn and Google.com, if you're on Washington Business and Technology Institute's website at http://communitylink.reviewjournal.com/lvrj/wbti

[[[A compliment or encouragement is verbal sunshine! We are pleased to quote the following three short but meaningful ones:
***** No matter how busy you are, you must take time to make other person feel important. ---Mary Kay Ash
***** There is no more noble occupation in the world than to assit another human being---to help someone succeed. ---Alan Loy McGinnis
***** There are two things people want more than sex and money ...recognition and praise. ---Mary Kay Ash
All art, permanent or temporary, has a life in the immediate experience, but then has a life in the imagination. ---Anish Kapoor 1954- :in "Sunday Times" 11 July 1999
"Accomplishment will prove to be a journey, not a destination." ---Dwight D. Eisenhower]]]

[[[Dear Dr. & Mrs. Lei:
I am writing this letter to invite you to my next Senior Advisory Committee meeting at 9:30 am on Thursday, February 23, 2006, at the Lieburn Senior Center, 6230 Garwood Avenue (map is enclosed). ..... Dr. Tony Tung-tien Lei has been U. S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley's Senior Advisor since January 2000.]]]*4

[[["It's really my pleasure and honor to be named as an Associate Professor of the Graduate School of Business and Public Administration of WBTI. WBTI has a good reputation with its Advisory Board and faculty members. The Board has Governor Kenny Guinn as its Chairman; U. S. Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign as Vice Chairmen; U. S. Representatives James Gibbons and Shelley Berkley, and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman as Executive Directors. With the excellent and informative publications of 'Google.cn', 'Google.com', 'Communitylink of Reviewjournal.com', 'Next Weekly' and among others, high-ranking officials of Nevada with the spiritual leadership of Chairperson Elaine Chao of WBTI have been inspired to help realize the creed for professional righteousness, community service, and humane spirit of WBTI," expressed Justice Michael Douglas of Nevada Supreme Court at the Event and Dinner Party in the Emperor's Garden Restaurant on February 4, 2005 in Las Vegas. It was held by the Committee to implement the ART EXHIBIT of Mr. QIN QUAN XIONG.]]]*5

[[[Some of the significant idea from the letters to Dr. Tony Lei, President of Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI):
"It's my great pleasure and honor to be named by you as a Senior Advisor and Honorary Chairman of CCDAPCC of WBTI. Please know that I irrevocably stand by my personal commitment to diversity issues in this state and that my sense of patriotism and faith in America stems from its embrace of that diversity." --A. William Maupin, Chief Justice of Nevada Supreme Court
"As Mayor, I will continue to devote my energies into the preservation and improvement of the standard of living enjoyed here in the City of Las Vegas." --Oscar B. Goodman
"It is only with the dedication and commitment of good people like yourself that I will achieve my goal of becoming Governor of this great state. Dema and I can't thank you enough for your assistance and your positive activivities in the community." --Kenny C. Guinn]]]*6

[[["As the Hononary Chairperson of International Cities Business Council of Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI), I'll have more venues to work for international tourism with Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn who is the Chairman of the Advisory Board of WBTI. We're putting all our effort and wisdom to work for our people, land, and country under the spiritual leadership of Chairperson Elaine Chao of WBTI," said Lorraine Hunt, Lt. Governor of Nevada, on November 11, 2005.
The above message was signed by Lt. Governor of Nevada Lorraine Hunt:.....]]]*7

[[["It's my great pleasure to extend my warm greetings of 'Happy Lunar New Year!' to every American and Chinese here in Las Vegas and North America through the Communitylink (at http://communitylink.reviewjournal.com/lvrj/wbti) of the largest newspaper in Nevada, Las Vegas Review-Journal," said James Gibbons, U. S. Congressman and Senior Director of Washington Business and Technology Institute, in the Event and Dinner Party held by Nevada Republican Party and ARCC on January 29, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event and dinner party were sponsored by Asian Republicans of Clark County for a reunion of the lunar new year to the Chinese, Asian, and American people in Las Vegas:.....]]]*8

---------------------------------------------
References

*1. Michael Douglas is a distinguished Justice of the Nevada Supreme Court. Valerie Weber is a famous and achieved Assemblywoman of Nevada and the Minority
Whip of the Assembly. Cheryl Moss is an outstanding District Court Judge of Nevada serving in Las Vegas, Clark County.
*2. PAI of WBTI. 'U. S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao's on Google!' "A search of 'U. S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao' on the Google.com," Mountain View, California: Google.com.
*3. Ibid.
*4. Berkley, Shelley. 'I am writing this letter to invite you to,' "A letter from U. S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley to Dr. and Mrs. Tony Tung-tien Lei," (February 8, 2006), Las Vegas, Nevada: Congresswoman Shelley Berkley's Office.
*5. Denton, Mark; Vega, Valorie; and Chang, Tiffany. 'Michael Douglas has been appointed Associate Professor of GSBPA by WBTI,' "A search of 'Justice Michael Douglas wbti' on the Google.com," (March 25, 2006), Mountain View, California: Google.com.
*6. Guinn, Kenny C. 'Nevada Proud of Our Troops in the Middle East,' "Section of 'Business & Administration' of the WBTI website," (March 23, 2006), Las Vegas, Nevada: WBTI.
*7. Hunt, Lorraine. 'As the Hononary Chairperson of International Cities Business Council,' "A search of 'Chairperson Lorraine Hunt' on the Google.com," (March 26, 2006), Mountain View, California: Google.com.
*8. Gibbons, James. 'It's my great pleasure to extend my warm greetings of,' "A search of 'James Gibbons, U. S. Congressman' on the Google.com," (March 27, 2006), Mountain View, California: Google.com.