Taipei Guide To MaoKong With All The Best Things To Do And Things To Know
MaoKong (貓空) is a popular attraction and many things you can do, from visiting beautiful tea plantations to stunning mountain views. This post shares the best things to do in MaoKong and how you can arrange your trip!
Is MaoKong worth visiting?
Yes, MaoKong is worth visiting, especially if you want to escape from busy Taipei city, go hiking, experience the Taiwanese tea culture, and enjoy the cozy mountain vibe. Most importantly, it is accessible by public transportation and perfect for all ages.
MaoKong is for everyone; it does not matter if you travel solo, with friends, families, or your loved one.
Table of Contents
What is MaoKong famous for?
Maokong is known for its high-quality tea cultivation and culture of Tie Guan Yin (鐵觀音) style oolong tea (烏龍茶).
The history of Tie Guan Yin (鐵觀音) style oolong tea (烏龍茶) in the area can be traced back to the time when the Japanese ruled Taiwan.
Besides selling quality tea from the region, there are also quite some restaurants and tea houses providing dishes that are inspired by Oolong tea.
Best time to visit
It’s suitable to visit MaoKong year round. However, if you don’t like cold weather, try to avoid going there in winter.
We highly recommend you visit MaoKong if you cannot stand the heat in Taipei City during summer.
Weather in MaoKong
Spring (March to May)
The weather is mild and pleasant, with temperatures ranging from 15°C to 25°C (59°F to 77°F).
Summer (June to August)
The weather is hot and humid, and the temperature can be over 30°C (86°F).
Afternoon rain is expected in summer, so have an umbrella or raincoat.
Autumn (September to November)
The weather is relatively cooler when compared with summer, and the temperature is between 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F).
Winter (December to February)
In winter, the temperature is from 10°C to 18°C (50°F to 64°F).
However, it is freezing cold when the continental cold air mass arrives in January and February.
It’s worth noting that 10°C in Europe is different from 10°C in Taipei since the weather is more dry in Europe. 10°C in Taipei feels like 0°C.
How To Get To MaoKong?
MaoKong is in Muzha (木柵), a suburb of Taipei, but you can reach MaoKong easily by public transportation.
From Taipei Main Station and other metro stations
First, take the metro to Taipei Zoo Station. Then, take the MaoKong Gondola from Taipei Zoo Station.
From Taipei 101
If traveling from Taipei 101, you can take a direct bus to Taipei Zoo Metro Station.
We prefer this way since it’s more time efficient and there is no need to change the metro line, but you must avoid the rush hour.
Take the Green 1 (綠1) bus from Taipei 101 or MRT Taipei City Hall Station to Taipei Zoo Station.
Things To Know Before Taking MaoKong Gondola
The gondola ride to MaoKong includes:
- Four stops.
- Taipei Zoo Station (動物園站).
- Taipei Zoo South Station (動物園南站).
- Zhinan Temple Station (指南宮站).
- The Maokong Station (貓空站).
How Much Is The Entrance To MaoKong Gondola?
It costs NT 120; USD $4 from Taipei Zoo Station to MaoKong Station, one way.
💡 Pro Tip: Get the unlimited pass or a combination ticket to get a bigger discount on your trip!
How Long Is The MaoKong Gondola Ride?
It takes 20 to 30 minutes from Taipei Zoo Station to MaoKong Station.
You might need to wait longer in line for the cabin on weekends or holidays.
What Options Do You Have For The MaoKong Gondola Ride?
There are two types of cabinets for the ride: standard and crystal cabin. No extra charge for the crystal cabin.
Crystal Cabin gives you a perfect 360-degree panoramic view of the stunning Taipei cityscape and the breathtaking green mountains.
If you wish to take the best photos and have a unique cabin experience, I highly recommend crystal cabin.
💡 Pro Tip: Be sure to wait in line for crystal cabin. The waiting time is usually shorter if you take it on the way back to Taipei Zoo Station.
When Is The Best Time Of The Day To Visit MaoKong?
If you wish to see the night view, arriving in MaoKong around three o’clock in the afternoon is best. After enjoying the hiking trail, you can enjoy the night scenery and atmosphere while savoring the food or tea.
How Many Hours Should You Stay In MaoKong?
You can do many things in Mao Kong; it depends on how long you want to stay.
You can make it a day or a half-day trip; it’s up to you.
We love to travel at our own pace, so we stayed there for almost half a day.
Some Ideas For Families Traveling With Kids
MaoKong Gondola is right next to Taipei Zoo Metro Station.
You can combine Taipei Zoo and MaoKong as another day trip in Taipei.
Please visit Taipei Zoo during the day, later dine at a restaurant, and enjoy the tea culture in MaoKong. You can take the MaoKong Gondola inside the zoo; get on the gondola from Taipei Zoo South Station; no need to exit from the main entrance of Taipei Zoo first.
Things To Do in MaoKong
There are plenty of things you can do in MaoKong.
Yinhe Cave Waterfall (銀河洞瀑布)
The top-rated attraction for locals and tourists. If you love hiking, you cannot miss this attraction.
The Yinhe Cave Hiking Trail (銀河洞登山步道) might be challenging for some people since it is a steep, stepped trail. Luckily the stunning waterfall view is only 1 Kilometer from the starting point. Make sure you travel with comfortable shoes!
It takes one hour to finish the Yiinhe Cave hiking trail. You can complete the course and end up in Xindian (新店) or return to the starting point after visiting the waterfall.
Zhangshu Trail (樟樹步道)
Camphor Trail is another highlight of your trip. This hiking trail is for ages, and it is possible to use strollers if traveling with infants.
You can see the tea garden and a nice view over Taipei if you follow the pathway.
It takes a maximum of one hour to finish the trail.
Every year in late March and early April, it’s the season for Lupin flower here.
Enjoy The Tea Culture
After hiking, it’s time for food to relax and enjoy the beautiful view.
There are many restaurants and tea houses in the area; you can either have a proper meal to experience Taiwanese food culture or have tea to experience Taiwanese tea culture.
Top Recommendation For Food In MaoKong
Whenever visiting MaoKong with our Dutch family, we always visit Spring Tea County (春茶鄉). It has excellent food, lovely scenery, and reasonable price. You can also enjoy the tea culture afterward.
Spring Tea County is a very local restaurant; it does not have a nice interior but has a great local vibe and excellent cooking skills. In Taiwan, people love having lunch or dinner after a day trip, so it might be busy on the weekend.
If you prefer a nice interior and a great view, Si Hye (四爺) is your best choice. It has a pleasant atmosphere and is close to MaoKong Gondola MaoKong Station.
💡 If you plan to visit Si Hye (四爺), grab the discounted offer or combination ticket!
Another way to enjoy Taiwan Tea Culture
If you want to fully immerse yourself in Taiwanese tea culture with a tour, this day tour with a reasonable price and high rating from past guests might be for you. If you want to have a hotel pick-up service and travel in a small group, choose this tour.
Enjoy Taipei’s night view
There’s an observation deck close to Ming-De Temple (明德宮) where you can view Taipei city with the Taipei 101.
It takes 20 minutes if you walk there from MaoKong Gondola MaoKong Station, and you will find many tea houses along the way. It is also possible to take the bus.
Zhinan Temple (指南宮)
If you want to see more mountain views or experience the local temple culture, get off at Zhinan Temple Station if you take the MaoKong Gondola.
The temple is free to access and an easy-to-explore area due to the well-organized trail.
What Can You Do After Visiting MaoKong
After visiting MaoKong, you can see below places to continue your trip in Taipei!
National ChengChi University (NCCU)
NCCU is one of the top universities in Taiwan, and you can reach it by bus within 20 minutes.
Taipei 101
If you visit MaoKong during the day, you can head to Taipei 101!
You can take the Green 1 (綠1) bus from Taipei Zoo Station to Taipei City Hall Station. From there, you can walk to Taipei 101 within 15 minutes.
Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan)
If you wish to take another hiking trip in Taipei, you can visit Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan; 象山) or have another day trip in Taipei, visiting it together with Taipei 101.
Elephant Mountain has the best view of Taipei 101, and that’s why it’s so popular among locals and tourists!
Linjiang Night Market
Visiting a night market is the top thing you must do in Taipei.
Linjiang Night Market is one of the most popular night markets in Taipei for the locals; it only takes around Xinyi Anhe Station (信義安和捷運站).
Although Linjian Night Market is more petite than Shilin Night Market, it is the night market the locals visit and has all the tasty street food you need.
