10 Best Things to Do for Couples in Nantou

Meihe Garden is located at the start of the Hanbi Trail at Sun Moon Lake. The other entry point is about 5 minutes away from the Shuishe Trail. The garden is located at a relatively high altitude, so you can get a panoramic view of the waters and mountains of Sun Moon Lake. From Meihe Garden you get a fantastic view of the clear waters of Sun Moon Lake and the boats neatly lined up at Shuishe Pier. There are two trails connecting to Shuishe Pier, making Meihe Garden one of the best places to admire Sun Moon Lake. The faint mist and the light sparkling on the water make this place look like a scene from a fairytale. If you've got good eyesight, you'll be able to spot Wenwu Temple in the distant mountains.

Meihe Garden is surrounded by stone walls and piled with rocks. Its lakeside location makes it a unique cultural landmark amidst the natural mountains and waters of Sun Moon Lake. If you take a boat trip from Shuishe Pier to the shore, you'll find Meihe Garden on high ground next to the lake. Come here with someone special to experience the joy and beauty of nature together.

The Church of Christ is located on Lalu Peninsula at Sun Moon Lake in Nantou. Built in 1971, the church is a classical Roman-style building with yellow walls and white columns on the outside, while its interior is decorated with crosses and cypress seats in a style befitting the solemn mood of the church. If you look down from the highest point of the church, you'll get a panoramic view of the waters and mountains of Sun Moon Lake. This is a popular wedding photography spot and a top choice for couples.

There's a happiness bell in the pavilion at the lakeside in front of the church. This pavilion is where wedding ceremonies often take place. Couples who ring the happiness bell when they get married are said to be ringing in a happy future together. Both the interior and exterior of the Church of Christ exude a classical elegance, calling out to all visiting couples who wish to make happy memories here. In the cafe, you and your partner can sit undisturbed in a corner and savour the sweetness of the distinctive red bean sponge cake served for afternoon tea.

Longfeng Temple in Sun Moon Lake Scenic Area in Nantou is popular for its shrine that worships Yue Lao (an old man said to live on the moon who is a deity of marriage). The temple was built almost a century ago. Apart from Yue Lao, devotees can come here to worship other deities such as the Arctic God Xuantian, Mazu (Goddess of the Sea) and Master Cankui (Master of Regrets).

The Yue Lao Shrine in this temple is a famous attraction in Sun Moon Lake Scenic Area. The shrine was originally located on Lalu Island, a small island in the centre of Sun Moon Lake, but was moved to Longfeng Temple after the 921 Earthquake. There are carved dragons and phoenixes wrapped around the beams and pillars at the entrance of Longfeng Temple in place of the painted decorations of most ordinary temples. The Yue Lao Shrine at Longfeng Temple has been voted as one of the top 10 Yue Lao shrines in Taiwan in terms of "efficacy" (making the wish a reality). You can see tags seeking a good match hanging all around the shrine. It's said that as long as you pray sincerely, you'll soon find a good match. The Yue Lao Shrine of Longfeng Temple in Sun Moon Lake has always been a mysterious but efficacious shrine. Now that the old man living on the moon has moved into Longfeng Temple, the prayers seem to be even more effective.

Shuishe Dam Park is located in the direction of Toushe at Sun Moon Lake. This park is also known as "Wedding Bridge" or "Lovers Bridge" and is one of the few places where you can enjoy a 180-degree view of the ravishing splendour of Sun Moon Lake. As you walk through the park, you can see where the shimmering blue lake meets the sky, with the cascading mountains and mists in the distance. There are also wooden walkways on the shore and grass on the embankment where you can stop for a rest.

Shuishe Dam was built to regulate the water levels between Sun Moon Lake and Mingtan (another lake). The dam can therefore be said to be the guardian of Sun Moon Lake. Without the dam to protect and care for Sun Moon Lake, it would have long since become a piece of dry land. Couples strolling on the wooden walkways of Shuishe Dam come here to appreciate the amazing scenery and perhaps get lost in their thoughts as they gaze at the water, contemplating the true significance of the dam and hoping for the same kind of protection for their own relationship.

Mount Shimen is one of the peaks of Mount Hehuan and stands at an elevation of 10,620 feet (3,237 metres) above sea level. The trail is paved with wooden and stone steps. It takes about 30 minutes to reach the summit from the mountain pass. Although the mountain is quite high, the path has a gentle slope, while the top of the mountain is flat and wide. The ascent to the summit is manageable for most people. The Japanese originally constructed and maintained Hehuan Yueling Road, building a tunnel in the rock wall on the north side of Mount Shimen. Thereafter, this place became a gate known as "Shimen", literally meaning "Stone Gate".

Along the trail, you can see large grass plains, Mount Qilai, Mount Pingfeng, Mount Hehuan, Central Jianshan and other big mountains. In spring and autumn, this is one of the best places to enjoy the sunrise. From the top of the mountain you can see Liwu River bathed in the golden rays of the sun, adding a touch of romance to the already breathtaking views of the mountains and water. With such a magnificent backdrop, a hike at Mount Shimen is sure to be filled with many memorable moments.

Located in the northeast of Puli Township, Mount Hutou is about 18,373 feet (5,600 metres) above sea level with a stable airflow, making this place a haven for paragliding. Avid paragliders don't just come here because of the suitable terrain. They also come for the spectacular scenery as they look down at the Puli Basin from above, not to mention the amazing sunrise, sunset and nighttime views.

Mount Hutou's proximity to the Puli Basin means that the weather here is changeable. Often when it rains in Puli Township, a mist appears because of the abundant moisture in the air, and this mist then envelops the entire basin. As the mist gradually dissipates, attractive "doughnuts" frequently appear in the middle of the mist. Photography enthusiasts come here to try to capture this special scene on camera, and are prepared to wait patiently for the right moment. Why not bring your partner here to experience paragliding and enjoy the incredible scenery? And if you're lucky, you might even get a photo of the doughnuts as a souvenir.

Taiwan Adventist College in Yuchi Township, Nantou County, is considered to be one of the most beautiful campuses in Central Taiwan. The entire college is surrounded by mountains. Walk onto the campus and you'll be greeted by the green boulevard of Zheru Avenue with large grassy areas lining both sides of the road. You can bring your own food and sit on the grass for a leisurely picnic. Alternatively, you can take a break and have something to eat at the "Little White House".

Just further ahead, there's a church under the shade of a banyan tree. The towering tree blocks the sky, casting a shadow that makes the church looks imposing and solemn. Slow and steady is the natural pace here. Couples strolling past the trees and grass look like actors from a romantic drama as they lean into one another to confide their thoughts and feelings. The otherworldly feel of this college attracts many directors to shoot commercials here. It's also a popular secret getaway for locals and the location of choice for couples going on a date.

The Paper Dome adopts the architectural style of a Roman Catholic church and is located in Taiwan. The interior of the dome is supported by 58 pressurised paper columns. The oval ceiling is a translucent canopy that allows light in, while the long exterior wall is made of fibre-reinforced panels. These ingeniously connect the exterior walls and columns to form an elliptical space. As the sun shines through the translucent canopy, light and shadows intermingle to create an atmosphere that feels both solemn and sacred.

The benches inside the dome are designed using paper tubes. It's amazing how stable and comfortable they feel when you sit on them. Any doubts you may have about their usability disappear in an instant. The distinctive features of the Paper Dome coupled with the ingenious design that allows the interplay of light and shadows create a romantic mood that attracts many couples. They come here to appreciate the beautiful reflection of the Paper Dome in the water surrounding it, take photos of themselves and make unforgettable memories.