When it comes to Sun Moon Lake, most people's first impression is the cycling path around the lake, the lakeside coffee at Xiangshan Cafe, or the sunrise event on New Year's Day. But when it comes to xiaolongbao, Sun Moon Lake is certainly not a major stronghold for this classic Jiangzhe dim sum. However, if you drive south from Taipei along National Highway 6, or head there from Taichung, several towns along the way actually hide some surprisingly high-quality xiaolongbao shops worth making a detour to try before entering Sun Moon Lake.
The Unique Cultural Context of Xiaolongbao in Central Taiwan's Scenic Areas
Taiwan's xiaolongbao landscape actually shows a distinct geographic distribution. The north, centered around Taipei, developed refined Jiangzhe traditions starting from Din Tai Fung, while the south focuses on Tainan and Kaohsiung, with sweeter flavors and thinner dough. However, the central scenic areas present a more unique situation—this is a transit zone for commuters and travelers, where many passengers traveling between Taipei and Kaohsiung in the past would stop for meals, unexpectedly fostering some vintage Jiangzhe dim sum shops.
The Yuchi Township where Sun Moon Lake is located actually has the Red Jade Tea and Assam Tea as its main industries, with most food vendors focusing on providing simple meals and snacks for tourists. Instead, heading north to Puli or Guoxing, or southwest to Shuili, you can still find a few old-school shops坚持手工製麵的老店. Their existence actually reflects an interesting industry phenomenon: the central region has an extremely high density of buffets (a regional characteristic of central Taiwan's food industry), but traditional dim sum shops have become relatively rare, each with its own loyal regular customers.
## Field Discoveries of Xiaolongbao Shops Around the Scenic Area
[Puli] Jin Cheng Xiaolongbao
Located near the Mazu Temple in the center of Puli Township, this is a family-run shop without a formal sign, but the address is easy to find—it's under the arcade at the market entrance. The signature xiaolongbao comes in a portion of 10 pieces, with pure pork and scallion filling, no added seasoning, following the old Taipei style with pronounced ginger and sweet, juicy meat. The skin has a chewy texture, not the kind that breaks easily when pinched like banquet-style dumplings, but because of this slightly springy skin, the soup inside is better supported. Their hot and sour soup is a hidden gem, using homemade black vinegar instead of factory-made, just NT$30 per bowl. There are only four tables in the shop, so arrive late and you'll need to queue—it's less crowded before 11 AM or after 2 PM.
[Shuili] Sheng Yuan Xiao Bao Zi
On the old street in front of Shuili's old train station, this shop's signature is actually pork buns rather than xiaolongbao, but they do offer xiaolongbao on the menu, and the quality is surprising. Perhaps because they focus on machine-made buns, the owner has particularly good control over the dough—the skin is slightly thicker than average xiaolongbao, but eating it provides a different kind of satisfaction. This approach is more like the early Jiangzhe traditional method, unlike the current trend of transparent Hong Kong-style thin skin. The filling is leaner, suitable for those who don't like it too fatty. Paired with a bowl of local-style fish ball soup completes the classic combo. The shop has been open for over 40 years; the owner is the second generation, learning the craft from her parents.
[Yuchi] Atu Yili Restaurant
Strictly speaking, this isn't a dedicated xiaolongbao shop, but a restaurant combining Thao tribal flavors and Chinese cuisine. Their "xiaolongbao" is adapted into a Thao-style version—adding local ingredients like herbs and dongquai to the filling, tasting somewhat like a creative fusion of indigenous and Han Chinese cuisine. The owner is Thao, very familiar with local ingredient characteristics; this xiaolongbao is also her years-long research creation. Though not traditional Jiangzhe xiaolongbao, this innovative fusion approach represents the evolution direction of dining around Sun Moon Lake to some extent. If you've tried N shops of traditional xiaolongbao and want something different, this is a good choice. The shop is on the road from Sun Moon Lake toward Xiangshan—the sign is not obvious, so pay attention or you'll miss it.
[Wushe] Gucao Wei Dian Xin
This one was truly a accidental discovery. Wushe is a small town on the way to Cingjing Farm; this dessert shop originally sold shaved ice, but the owner learned to make xiaolongbao from a master many years ago. They don't specifically promote it, but regular customers know they can order it. The filling uses local black-haired pork, which has more elasticity than ordinary imported pork, and the fat-to-meat ratio is perfectly balanced—not dry nor greasy. The shop's ancient-style tofu pudding is actually their main product, with xiaolongbao being the hidden menu item. This story tells us that many small shops around scenic areas have their own secret menus that aren't widely known.
[Taichung Wuri] Ming Zhi Xiaolongbao
If you're traveling from Taipei to Sun Moon Lake via National Highway 1 or HSR, this shop at the Wuri exit is a great mid-point stop. Near Taichung HSR Station, this xiaolongbao shop has been operating for over 20 years, maintaining traditional methods—they start preparing materials at 4 AM daily, with same-day fresh filling, never using overnight meat. The taste follows standard old-school style—you won't be disappointed but won't be particularly surprised either. If your itinerary involves driving directly from Taipei to Sun Moon Lake and you need a place to refuel along the way, this shop is a safe choice.
## Practical Information
Transportation Tips
The fastest route from Taipei to Sun Moon Lake is via National Highway 6 (about two hours), passing through Puli; if taking National Highway 3, you'll pass through Wushe. We recommend incorporating xiaolongbao stops into your itinerary as mid-way points, rather than searching everywhere after arriving at Sun Moon Lake—that's more efficient. The shop in Shuili is another option when entering Sun Moon Lake from the Taichung side. No matter which direction you're coming from, we recommend factoring in driving time, as there's some distance between these spots.
Price Reference
Current general xiaolongbao prices in Taiwan range from NT$80-180 per portion (8-12 pieces). Prices around scenic areas are relatively stable, ranging from NT$70 to NT$120 per portion, with larger portions or add-on soups being common. Jin Cheng Xiaolongbao is NT$80 for 10 pieces, Ming Zhi is NT$100 for 10 pieces, and Atu Yili's Thao-style version is NT$120 for 8 pieces—slightly higher priced but also smaller portions.
Business Hours
Most shops operate between 10 AM and 8 PM, but mountain town shops often don't have fixed closing days—we recommend calling ahead to confirm. Jin Cheng Xiaolongbao is closed every Thursday, and may also close on bad weather days—this is common for small mountain shops.
## Travel Tips
The idea of looking for xiaolongbao at Sun Moon Lake itself has a certain absurdity to it, but there are indeed a few shops around the central scenic areas worth making a special trip to. My biggest advice: don't treat "eating xiaolongbao" as the main goal of your Sun Moon Lake trip, but rather see it as a pleasant surprise along the way—this mindset will be more relaxed, and you'll更容易享受到那份意外的成就感.
Secondly, if you really have high expectations for xiaolongbao, going directly back to Taipei or Taichung city offers more options,不用说. What Sun Moon Lake area truly excels in is the local Yuchi Red Jade Tea, the black tea ice cream at Lixing Elementary School at 3:30 PM, or the lakeside afternoon tea at Xiangshan Cafe. These are the essence of this scenic area. Xiaolongbao here, after all, is just a supporting role.
Finally, if you're willing to try non-traditional versions, Atu Yili's Thao-style xiaolongbao actually better represents the characteristics of this land. Sometimes, rather than pursuing authenticity, embracing local creativity will lead you to discover more possibilities.
The most beautiful scenery of this lake is often not at the destination itself, but lies in the journey of getting there.
