Lalu Island (known to the Thao people as Lalu, meaning "homeland") sits in the middle of Sun Moon Lake and is the spiritual centre of Taiwan's Thao indigenous people, one of the country's smallest indigenous groups. The island is closed to visitors and can only be seen from the lake or from viewpoints on the shore. A gnarled old tree on the island — a sacred species in Thao belief — is visible from the water.
Boat tours circling the lake pass close to Lalu Island and provide the best view. The Ita Thao Pier on the south shore is the main departure point. The combination of the restricted island and the lake's mist makes for something more compelling than a typical tourist attraction — a place whose significance depends on what you cannot access.