How do I get to the Maokong Gondola from Taipei?

Take the MRT Brown Line to Taipei Zoo Station (end of the line). The gondola station is a 3-minute walk from the MRT exit. One-way ticket NT$70 (adults), return NT$120. Journey time to Maokong Station: 25 minutes. Runs Tuesday–Sunday; closed Mondays.

Maokong Gondola Guide 2026 | Taipei Tea Hills

Maokong: tea hills above Taipei’s zoo

Maokong (貓空) is a mountain tea-growing area in Wenshan District, southern Taipei. “Maokong” translates roughly to “cat hollow” — a reference to the pockmarked river rocks in the area’s streams, not the animals. It sits above Taipei Zoo at an elevation of about 300m, and the gondola ride from the zoo to the top takes 25 minutes.

The area has been producing oolong tea since the 19th century. Today it is best known as Taipei’s closest accessible tea culture destination — dozens of teahouses, plantation paths, and mountain views over the Taipei Basin — served by a gondola that makes the ascent effortless.

It is not a day-long destination. Most visitors spend 2–4 hours: gondola up, one or two teahouses, a short walk, gondola back. It is an excellent afternoon or evening excursion that can be combined with Taipei Zoo (same MRT stop) or a morning in central Taipei.


Where	Wenshan District, southern Taipei, above Taipei Zoo
Cost	Gondola around NT$120 return; tea pot around NT$150–300
Time needed	2–4 hours; add 2–3 hours to combine with Taipei Zoo
Getting there	MRT Brown Line to Taipei Zoo Station, 3-min walk to gondola
Best time	Late afternoon into dusk, or weekday mornings for quiet
Closed	Mondays (gondola maintenance day)

Getting there

MRT: Take the MRT Brown Line (Wenhu Line) to Taipei Zoo Station (動物園站), the final stop. Exit and turn right (south) — the gondola station (Taipei Zoo Gondola Station) is about 3 minutes walk.

Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 09:00–21:00 (last cabin at each station by 20:30). Closed Mondays for maintenance.

Journey time: Taipei Zoo Station → Maokong Terminal: 25 minutes with one intermediate stop (Zhinan Temple). There are four stations on the line: Taipei Zoo, Taipei Zoo (South) — a short intermediate stop for zoo visitors — Zhinan Temple, and Maokong.

Tickets and prices

Single journey: NT$70 adult, NT$35 children 6–12, free under 6 Return: NT$120 adult, NT$60 children EasyCard discount: 20% off — NT$56 one way, NT$96 return (recommended) Crystal cabin upgrade: NT$50 extra per direction — glass-floor cabins with downward views

Combo tickets available at the gondola station:

Zoo + Gondola combo: NT$120 adult (good value if you want both)
Gondola + experience: includes one Maokong tea tasting at a partner teahouse

Maokong Gondola and zoo combo ticket with train Zoo, Maokong Gondola and experience ticket

The gondola experience itself

The Maokong Gondola is a standard enclosed 8-person gondola cable car. It ascends steeply over the southern edge of Taipei, passing above the zoo, through forested ridges, and arriving at Maokong terminal with expanding views over Taipei as you rise.

The crystal cabin (glass floor) is worth the NT$50 premium if you are comfortable with heights — the visual of the city grid far below through the cabin floor is genuinely striking. Standard cabins have glass walls and windows and provide good views regardless.

On weekends and evenings, queues form. Peak waiting time is 20–40 minutes on busy days. The queue moves continuously.

What to do at the top

Tea at the teahouses

The primary activity in Maokong is sitting at a teahouse and drinking tea. The area has over 30 teahouses ranging from basic family operations to more designed contemporary spaces.

What you order: A pot of oolong served traditionally — ceramic teapot, small cups, hot water refills, sometimes a small dish of snacks (sesame crackers, dried fruit). Cost: NT$150–300 per pot, usually serving 2–4 people with multiple infusions.

Baozhong oolong: The traditional Maokong tea, light green liquor, floral aroma, lower oxidation. Refreshing in any season.

Jin Xuan (milk oolong): A creamy-flavoured tea variety; the natural aroma resembles warm milk despite no dairy being added. Very popular with first-timers.

Which teahouse to choose: Most are along Zhinan Road above the gondola terminal. Teahouses with outdoor terraces or upper-floor seating have city views; ground-floor interior spaces are quieter and more traditional. A few specific names worth noting: Yanpin Teahouse (延平茶坊) has consistently good baozhong and clear city views; Teahouse 36 (三十六行茶坊) is smaller and traditional in style. Both are local operators, not chains.

Walking the plantation paths

A 2–3km network of paths connects the teahouse areas with the tea plantations themselves. The paths are clear and signed. The standard loop: from the gondola terminal, walk left along Zhinan Road past the teahouses, then branch onto the smaller plantation paths for 30–45 minutes of gentle walking through the rows of tea bushes. Return via the same road or loop back from the far end.

Views over Taipei are best from the higher sections of the path (above 350m). The city appears in full on clear days, with the MRT Brown Line visible in the distance below.

Shenkeng Old Street (tofu street)

A 10-minute taxi (NT$150–200) or 40-minute walk from Maokong leads to Shenkeng Old Street, known throughout Taipei for its tofu specialties: stinky tofu (chou doufu), soft tofu dessert (douhua), and braised tofu dishes. If you want to add a food experience to the Maokong visit, Shenkeng is the logical pairing:

Maokong tea and Shenkeng tofu private day tour

Guided tea culture day

For a deeper introduction to Taiwanese tea including Pinglin tea farm (a major growing area one valley over) and Maokong in one day:

Pinglin tea culture and Maokong guided day tour

Combining with Taipei Zoo

Taipei Zoo (木柄動物園) is one of Asia’s best urban zoos — genuinely well-regarded, covering the main African and Taiwanese fauna with naturalistic enclosures. The zoo is at the base of the gondola; the combo ticket covers both.

Realistic time budget: Zoo 2–3 hours (the zoo is large; the Formosan Wildlife area and the giant panda enclosure are priority stops), then Maokong Gondola 2–3 hours. A full day starting at 09:30 can cover both comfortably.

Zoo entry: NT$60 adult, NT$30 children. The combo with gondola (NT$120) saves NT$10 and simplifies queuing.

Seasonal notes

Spring (Feb–Apr): Tea bushes are producing new growth. The season for picking the best-quality baozhong. Maokong teahouses often have special spring tea (chuncha) available — ask about it.

Summer (June–Aug): Warm and often humid. Afternoon thunderstorms are common from 14:00 onward. Plan your return gondola ride before 16:00 during storm-prone weeks, or stay late (19:00+) after the storms clear for evening city lights.

Autumn (Oct–Nov): Second tea picking season, pleasant temperatures. One of the best times for the plantation walk and a pot of tea on an outdoor terrace.

Winter (Dec–Feb): Cool (10–15°C in Maokong), occasional fog, very quiet. The indoor teahouses are cosy. Gondola may briefly suspend for wind on cold frontal days.

For how Maokong fits into the broader tea culture picture, see taipei tea culture guide and jiufen teahouses vs maokong comparison. For the hiking trails of the area, see taipei best hikes guide. For the destination page: destinations/maokong.

How much time to budget

Itinerary	What it covers	Time needed
Quick loop	Gondola up, one teahouse, gondola down	2–2.5 hours
Standard visit	Gondola, teahouse, short plantation walk	3–4 hours
Full day with zoo	Taipei Zoo in the morning, gondola and teahouses in the afternoon	6–7 hours
Tea culture day	Pinglin tea farm plus Maokong on a guided day	Full day

A quick loop suits travellers slotting Maokong into a busier Taipei itinerary — see the how many days in Taipei guide for how it fits a wider trip. The full-day combination with the zoo is the better use of the MRT trip if you have not yet visited Taipei Zoo, since both share the same station.

Frequently asked questions about Maokong gondola guide — tea plantations, views, and how to visit

How much does the Maokong Gondola cost?

Single journey NT$70 per adult (NT$35 children). Return NT$120 adults. EasyCard gives a 20% discount — NT$56 one way, NT$96 return. The combo ticket including Taipei Zoo entry is NT$120 for adults and available at the gondola station. Gondola cabin upgrades to the crystal cabin (glass floor) cost an extra NT$50.

What is there to do in Maokong besides the gondola?

Maokong is primarily a tea culture destination. The hillside has dozens of teahouses serving locally grown oolong (baozhong) and jin xuan (milk oolong). Walking between the plantation paths takes 1–2 hours. A few restaurants serve Taiwanese mountain cuisine. The views over Taipei from the higher teahouses are the main non-tea activity. There is also a smaller hiking trail network if you want to explore beyond the teahouses.

Is Maokong good for a date or romantic outing?

Yes, it is a popular evening destination specifically for this reason. Many teahouses have outdoor seating or covered terraces with city views. The gondola at dusk offers aerial views of Taipei as the lights come on. The atmosphere at most Maokong teahouses is quiet and relaxed, making it more suited to a couple's evening than a loud group outing.

What teas are grown in Maokong?

Two main varietals. Baozhong (包種茶) is a lightly oxidised oolong, floral and delicate, the traditional Maokong tea. Jin Xuan (金萱, also called milk oolong) is a natural milky-flavoured tea developed in the 1980s and very popular with visitors unfamiliar with oolong. Both are sold at the teahouses for drinking and to take home. Prices per pot NT$150–300.

What time should I visit Maokong?

Late afternoon (15:00–18:00) gives you daylight views at the teahouses and the gondola at dusk on the return — a popular combination. Morning visits (09:00–12:00) are quieter and have better mountain views before haze builds. The gondola closes at 21:00 (last cabin up at 20:30), so evenings work but do not linger past 20:00 to ensure a return ride.

Does the Maokong Gondola run in rain?

The gondola operates in light rain. It suspends service during strong winds (above a set threshold), lightning, or typhoon warnings. In mountain areas, afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer (June–August) — if you see lightning building, plan your descent early. Check current operational status on the Taipei Zoo website or call the gondola operator before visiting on uncertain weather days.

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