Maokong Gondola is Taiwan's first urban aerial gondola, running approximately 4 kilometers from Taipei Zoo Station to Maokong Station. Along the way it looks out over the hilly terrain on the southern edge of the Taipei Basin. The Maokong mountain area is Taipei City's primary tea-growing district, known for Tieguanyin and Muzha teas. Teahouses on the hillside offer tea tasting and views, and combining the gondola experience with tea culture is what makes this place distinctive.
Highlights of Maokong Gondola
Maokong Gondola opened in 2007 with four stations — Zoo, Zoo South, Zhinan Temple, and Maokong — and the full journey takes about 30 minutes. Along the way the gondola overlooks the Muzha hillside terrain and the southern contours of the Taipei Basin. There is a Crystal Cabin option with a transparent glass floor that provides a downward view; this requires a separate request or standby queue — details are available on the official website. The system was previously suspended for engineering safety repairs and has been in continuous operation since its reopening.
Tea cultivation in the Maokong mountain area dates back to the Qing dynasty. Tieguanyin is the representative local tea variety. Farmer-run teahouses are scattered across the hillside, most featuring wooden platform designs from which you can drink tea while looking out over the valley. The nighttime scene after teahouses light up is entirely different from the daytime; taking the gondola up at dusk, having tea in the evening, and then descending by gondola or bus is a common way to visit.
How to make the most of your visit
Practical information
Getting there and time needed
- Take the MRT Wenhu Line to Zoo Station; the Maokong Gondola Zoo Station ticket office is about a 5-minute walk.
- For gondola fares and operating hours, check the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation official website. Service is suspended during maintenance periods or in strong wind conditions.
- A mountain bus also runs from near Zhinan Temple for the descent; choose your way down based on energy and time.
Nearby connections
- Zhinan Temple, a mid-route station, is worth stopping at — the temple is built against the mountain with an open view looking south over the Taipei Basin.
- Taipei Zoo is adjacent to the gondola's starting station; visiting the zoo before taking the gondola up can fill out a full-day itinerary.
Source: Taipei City Rapid Transit Office official information and public tea industry records. Photos to be replaced with Dio's own shots.