Taiwan really is an incredible place! One of the fun experiences in Taipei, as long as you aren’t afraid of heights, is riding the Maokong Gondola. I loved visiting Maokong and riding the gondola. You can drive or take public transportation to the Taipei Zoo and the first Gondola station is called the Taipei Zoo Station. Here you can buy tickets or use your EasyCard (metro card) for the gondola ride which has 3 additional stations. The second station is the Taipei Zoo South Station, followed by Zhinan Temple Station and finally the Maokong Station. If you go during the summer be sure to bring along plenty of water and sunscreen as there is a lot to see! The ride itself is pretty incredible. There are traditional gondola cars and there are also some with clear bottoms so you can look directly beneath you as you climb through the mountains. The ride is 20 to 30 minutes long which gives you plenty of time for great photos and just enjoying the experience. You’ll get a spectacular view of Taipei below! I haven’t gone at night but I have to imagine it would also be gorgeous to see the city all lit up.

There is also a nice dancing fountain just outside the station with choreographed music. At night the fountain also lights up. Since it is just outside the station, it is worth it to check it out. The performance times are listed near the fountain.

MaoKong Station

The first time I rode the gondola I went to the last stop, Maokong Station. I really didn’t have time that day to explore anything more than that stop. It was hot on the day I visited and after hiking and eating a little, I was ready to go home and get back into the air conditioning. Once you arrive at the MaoKong Station there are hiking trails and tea shops and temples. The tea shops sell some interesting items such as tea ice cream and tea cups made from bamboo, along with a great variety of local tea. I also tried some tea noodles which was a new and interesting lunch. There are beautiful farms that you’ll pass as you’re hiking with tea, exotic fruits and of course, lovely views. I hiked to the Zhangshan temple which is about a mile (1.6 km) hike from the station. The views of the city below from the temple are beautiful.

Zhinan Temple Station

The second time I rode the gondola, I went briefly back up to the Maokong station and stopped at SunYang Teahouse for lunch. It is a nice restaurant with a stunning view of the mountains and surrounding area. They have outdoor seating for beautiful views while you enjoy your meal. Next, I went back to the Zhinan Temple Station. This was my favorite station. I went in the winter months and it was a bit cloudy and a little rainy but I really enjoyed hiking and exploring in the cooler weather. I explored the Zhinan temple and hiked through an area with statues of the different Chinese zodiacs. There are plenty of places for great photos and the Dragon fountain that you’ll see as you get off at the stop is quite amazing. I really enjoyed exploring this area and the pictures just don’t do it justice!

Taipei Zoo South Station

The second stop on the gondola is the Taipei Zoo South Station. I took the gondola here on one of my trips to the Taipei Zoo. You can buy tickets for the zoo at a kiosk when you get off at this stop. One of the things I didn’t know was that if you take the gondola to this stop then you must also take the train ride into the zoo. The zoo tickets that you buy at this entrance include the train fare of 5NTD. (only 16¢ USD) Because I had already purchased my zoo tickets, I was able to just pay the difference at the entrance. The nice thing about this entrance is that it drops you off at the back of the zoo. This way, you are walking downhill toward the entrance as you make your way through the zoo. This makes it a popular choice for families with young children as the kids get to ride on the gondola and then the zoo train.

Visiting Maokong and riding the gondola is a unique experience you won’t soon forget. It really is a must see attraction in Taipei! I hope you’ve enjoyed my pictures from my visits there!