Amazing Taiwan Tour   5Days/4Nights Amazing Taiwan Tour (Sunday Departure) (Round Island Tour with English-Speaking Driver Guide Throughout) Day 1(Sun)　 Taipei – Sun Moon Lake 08:30 To be picked up by English-speaking driver guide, then proceed to Sun Moon Lake 13:00 Arrive at Sun Moon Lake. Lying in Nantou county, in the very heart of the island, rounded expanse of pure blue water, reflecting an often crystal-clear blue sky, cradled by lofty green-hue mountains, it’s hardly surprising that Sun Moon Lake is one of the island's best-loved tourist draws. Encircle lake tour, (The road for the most part clings to the lakeside for about fifteen kilometers) visiting: * Wen Wu Temple, the original complex was built in 1938; two temples lower down the hillside were submerged when the waters of the lake were raised. The two lions that guard the temple are the largest in Taiwan. * Tse-En Pagoda, placed with exquisite artistry atop Green Dragon Mountain, the views from the top are magnificent. The pagoda, built in 1971 by Chiang Kai Shek to memorize his mother’s .merit, draws most visitors ever further round the lakeside road Overnight at hotel at Sun Moon Lake Top↑   Day 2(Mon)　 Sun Moon Lake – Tainan – Kaohsiung (B) 08:30 After breakfast, heading south for Tainan 11:30 Arrive at Tainan, where was established as the capital of Taiwan in 1661 and remained capital until 1887 during the Qing Dynasty. The city is famous for her abundant historic buildings and delicious snack food. City Orientation Tour, visiting : * Anping Fort, the “start” of Tainan, is a good place to start a tour and, if time only allows one destination within the city, this is probably the best choice. Called Fort Zeelandia by the Dutch, it is still an impressive site even though only one section of the original structure stands, the rest destroyed in a typhoon or the bricks taken by locals. * Confucius Temple, Taiwan’s oldest Confucius temple, was built in 1665 by one of Koxinga’s generals just after eviction of the Dutch,. 14:30 Afternoon proceed to Foguangshan, Light of Buddha Mountain, is the perhaps primary center for Buddhist scholarship in Taiwan. The complex consists of a number of shrine halls, pleasant colonnades, pagodas, pavilions, sculpted gardens, meandering footpaths, and myriad placid crannies and nooks for meditation. By the entrance stands Taiwan’s tallest image of the Buddha (32 meters, 105 feet), surrounded by a corps of 480 life-sized renderings of disciples. 16:00 Orientation tour of the Foguangshan monastery Overnight at Foguangshan Monastery Top↑   Day 3(Tue)　 Kaohsiung – Taitung(B) 09:00 After breakfast, Visit Foguangshan 11:00 Proceed to Taitung 15:00 Arrive at Chihpen, Taitung to check in hotel and enjoy the natural hot spring for the remainder of the day. Overnight at hotel in Chihpen Top↑   Day 4(Wed)　 Taitung – Hualian - Taroko(B) 08:30 Drive northward along the east coast, there are two of the most popular stops: Stone Umbrella (a rocky beach upon which sits an umbrella-shaped rock formation)and Sansiantai, (lit. Terrace of the Three Immortals), Three particularly large rocks grouped close to each other on the island have given rise to the local legend that three of the Eight Immortals of Chinese mythology once landed here; hence the name of the place. Stone Steps (Shihtiping), stands out for its whitish-gray volcanic tuff, which has been eroded by wind and ocean waves. The layers of rock resemble huge stone steps; 17:00 Check in the Grand Formosa Taroko The rest of day free at leisure or for your own exploration. Overnight at Grand Formosa Hotel Taroko Top↑   Day 5(Thu)　 Taroko – Hualien – Taipei(B) 08:30 After breakfast, commence the Tour of Taroko Gorge. “taroko” means “beautiful “ in the lingo of the East Coast Amis natives. Visit Points: Tunnel of Nine Turns, Swallow Grotto, Eternal Spring Shrine and Taroko Gorge Gateway. 11:30 Visit the Chingshui Cliffs along the Su-Hua highway and return to Taipei in the afternoon. 18:00 Transfer back to your hotel in Taipei Top↑               142, 5Fl., Chung Hsiao E. Road, Sec. 4, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C Tel: 886-2-2773-3266 Fax: 886-2-2772-3449 E-mail: gftour@gftours.com.tw