Maokong, located in the Wenshan district of Taipei, is easily known as one of the most scenic spots in Taipei. It’s a small village sitting atop a mountain that offers simply breathtaking views of Taipei. It’s likely one of the best places to find good quality, locally grown tea, and is also known for the variety of tea shops carrying tea and tea products. A perfect day trip for tea connoisseurs and anybody wanting to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city.

How I actually got to Maokong was kind of random, but I’m glad it happened. I was brushing my teeth in the shared women’s bathroom at my hostel, and as this girl came out of the shower, she casually introduced herself to me. Long story, short: we chatted for a bit, she mentioned it was her last day in Taiwan, and we decided to take a little trip to Maokong. We took the brown line to get there, paid for our gondola tickets with our Easy Cards, and hopped in. On our way up, we shared the gondola with a super cute Taiwanese couple and chatted a bit while enjoying the view.

When we got to our stop, we all got out and parted ways—myself and the girl from my hostel, and the Taiwanese couple. We strolled through “Popular Food Street,” which was buzzing with locals and other tourists, alike. As we were walking, we stopped at a couple of food vendors selling delicious Taiwanese treats. But more or less, we simply took in the views from atop the mountain. 

Side note: We went on a Monday and though there was a bit of a line, it really was not anything to get worked up about. We were, however, told by locals that weekends are usually packed. So, if possible, try planning your trip here on a weekday to avoid the crowds. Since it’s so accessible from the city, it’s a hot spot for both tourists and locals, alike!

Access: Take the Wenhu/Brown Line to Taipei Zoo, Taipei Zoo (動物園) metro station and then walk 5 minutes to the Taipei Zoo gondola station. Then, get tickets and enjoy the ride (you can use your prepaid Easy Card or the ticket window)! There are 4 stops:

• Taipei Zoo (動物園)
• Taipei Zoo South (動物園南)
• Zhinan Temple (指南宮)
• Maokong (Sanxuan Temple) (貓空)

Have you met some really awesome people during your travels!? Comment below, I’d love to hear about it!