Maokong Gondola Introduction
The Maokong Gondola, which is 4.03 kilometers long, is the first cable car system in Taipei City. A one-way trip takes about 20 to 30 minutes, with four stations: "Zoo Station," "Zoo South Station," "Zhinan Temple Station," and "Maokong Station" for passengers to board and alight. To take the Maokong Gondola from Zoo Station, simply ride the Taipei Metro Wenshan Line to the last stop, "Zoo Station," and walk to the gondola station. The first stop of the gondola is Zoo South Station, where visitors who finish exploring the zoo can take a shuttle bus from the zoo to the south station to ride the gondola up to Maokong. Zhinan Temple Station is the second stop of the gondola, located within the Zhinan Temple, which features five main halls attracting visitors for worship. There’s also a tea pavilion offering Wenshan Pouchong tea, Tieguanyin, and more for visitors to relax. Maokong Station is the terminal station of the gondola, surrounded by tea plantations and tea houses where many people come specifically to enjoy tea and chat. At night, you can overlook the night views of the greater Taipei area from here. If you come to Maokong, make sure to find a tea house to sip on the famous "Mu-Zha Tieguanyin" and "Wenshan Pouchong tea," while enjoying delicious specialty tea meals and the beautiful scenery of the Taipei Basin to make the trip worthwhile! The three most beautiful moments to ride the gondola are in the mist after rain, the sunset glow at dusk, and the brilliant night view. As you ride the gondola, moving along the ups and downs of the mountain, you can see passing Metro trains, Riverside Park by Jingmei Stream, Taipei 101, and the Long-necked Giraffe Incinerator. When you reach a sharp turn at station 2, the view opens up, allowing you to overlook the traffic on the highway. After passing Zhinan Temple Station, you enter a V-shaped steep slope, which is the climax of the gondola journey. This experience will leave you with unforgettable memories for a lifetime.
