Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Take the red line to Guandu MRT station and leave by Exit 1. Both the nature park and
temple are about 15 minutes' walk from the station and there are English signs along the
way. Visit the nature park first then the temple, as this forms a nice loop. Alternatively,
bus 302 from Guandu station terminates at the temple.
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Taipei Zoo
adult/child NT$60/30; 9am-5pm; Taipei Zoo)
is one of Taiwan's top attractions for loc-
als, and popular with visitors and expat residents with families as well. Its sprawling
165-hectare grounds include a wide variety of simulated geographical regions, including
a tropical rainforest zone, a desert and an enclosed 'nocturnal world' section. The koala,
panda and penguin houses are popular with the little ones.
The zoo has a minitrain (NT$5) for getting around (though you can certainly walk),
and at the back you'll find a gondola station if you want to add a visit to Maokong (re-
commended). The zoo has its own MRT stop, making it extremely convenient to visit.
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Maokong
The lush hilly region of southern Taipei, known as Maokong (Māokōng), has a long as-
sociation with tea cultivation. In fact, for a time it was Taiwan's largest tea-growing area.
But these days the verdant landscape is not just a place to grow tea; it's also somewhere
to enjoy drinking it. There are few activities so quintessentially Taiwanese and in recent
years the city has made an extra effort to attract visitors to the region. This includes
restoring old trails, landscaping roads, building lookouts and adding public transport op-
tions, such as a scenic gondola ride starting from the MRT Zoo station. Cyclists in partic-
ular appreciate the low traffic conditions in the hills, and Maokong has emerged as one
of the most popular of the many scenic day rides around Taipei.
