Thing to do
Shilin Night Market
Taipei's best-known night market spreads through the lanes of Shilin, combining a large food court with street snack stalls and clothes shops.
Maokong Gondola
A 4-kilometre gondola from Taipei Zoo up to the tea hills of Maokong, where tea houses serve Tieguanyin and Pouchong with views over the basin.
At a glance
- Type
- Cable car and tea hills
- Area
- Wenshan (Muzha), Taipei, Taiwan
- Opening
- Open 6 days a week (closed Monday)
- Official site
- travel.taipei
Good to know
- Four stations
- Links with Taipei Zoo MRT
- Tea houses at the top
Why we recommend it
The Maokong Gondola is Taipei's first gondola system and one of the easiest ways to escape the city for half a day. It climbs for about 4 kilometres from the Taipei Zoo area in the Wenshan District up to Maokong, a hillside area of tea plantations and tea houses, and the one-way ride takes roughly 20 to 30 minutes. The journey itself is part of the fun, with the city gradually giving way to green, steep hillsides.
There are four stations: Taipei Zoo, Taipei Zoo South, Zhinan Temple and Maokong. On the way up you pass over a changing landscape, looking down on the Metro, the riverside park along the Jingmei River and the freeway, before the line crosses a steep V-shaped gully after Zhinan Temple, which the tourism office describes as the high point of the ride. Zhinan Temple has its own station, so you can break the journey there if you want to see the temple before continuing to the top.
At Maokong, the attraction is tea. The area is known for its tea plantations and tea houses, and the local teas the tourism office recommends are Muzha Tieguanyin and Wenshan Pouchong. Tea is often enjoyed with a meal here, so a slow lunch or afternoon tea overlooking the Taipei Basin is the traditional way to spend a visit, ideally on a clear day when the views reach across the city.
According to the tourism office, the gondola runs from 9:00 to 21:00 Tuesday to Friday and until 22:00 on Saturday and Sunday, and it is listed as closed on Mondays. Weekends and public holidays can bring long queues at the bottom station, so a weekday morning is the easiest time to go. Check the weather before setting off, as cloud and rain spoil the views. Allow at least half a day including the ride, a tea break and a short walk; families can add a visit to Taipei Zoo, which gives the bottom station its name.
The nearby MRT stations are Taipei Zoo, Muzha and Wanfang Community on the Wenhu Line, with Taipei Zoo the obvious choice for the lower gondola station. The gondola makes a good contrast to the busy centre: combine a morning at the zoo or a temple visit with an afternoon of tea and views, then ride back down as the city lights come on.
Maokong Gondola FAQs
How long is the Maokong Gondola ride?
The line is about 4 km long and a one-way ride takes roughly 20 to 30 minutes.
What are the opening hours?
The tourism office lists 9:00 to 21:00 Tuesday to Friday, 9:00 to 22:00 on Saturday and Sunday, and closure on Mondays.
Which MRT station connects to the gondola?
The tourism office lists Taipei Zoo, Muzha and Wanfang Community on the MRT Wenhu Line as the nearby stations.
How many stations are there?
Four: Taipei Zoo, Taipei Zoo South, Zhinan Temple and Maokong.
What tea should you try in Maokong?
Muzha Tieguanyin and Wenshan Pouchong are the local teas the tourism office recommends.
When is the best time to go?
A clear weekday morning avoids the longest queues and gives the best views.
How long should you allow?
Plan on at least half a day for the ride, a tea break and a short walk.
Can you combine it with Taipei Zoo?
Yes, the first station is named Taipei Zoo, so the two fit easily into one day.