Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
This was a gift from a Thai prime minister exiled during a coup and later reinstated, it is
said, with the help of the Zhinan Temple pantheon.
Zhinan Temple's final claim to fame is the notorious habit of its resident god to split
apart unmarried couples (Lu himself was a jilted lover). Many young Taiwanese still
avoid the place for this reason.
Activities
Gondola
GONDOLA
(lǎnchē; ride NT$50; 9am-9pm Tue-Thu, to 10pm Fri & Sat)
The 4.3km long gondola ride is
as much an attraction in its own right as a mode of transport. On clear days or nights the
views across Taipei and up the lush Zhinan River valley are enchanting; on foggy days
they are dreamy. The gondola has four stations, with stops at the zoo, Zhinan Temple and
Maokong itself.
Avoid taking the gondola on weekend mornings or afternoons. Take the bus up instead
and catch the gondola down after 9pm. Most visitors are with family and don't linger
long after dinner. Note that during heavy rains or thundershowers (common in summer),
as well as after major earthquakes, the gondola is temporarily shut down.
Cycling
Maokong is the 'bee's knees' as one local rider described it. One minute you're in the
grit and heat of Taipei's streets, the next you're rolling (slowly) up lanes that are virtually
traffic-free and lined with spreading camphor trees. There are no easy routes, but if
you've gotten used to climbing hills (or want to) you won't find Maokong unmanage-
able. The loop starting on Lane 34, Zhinan Rd, Sec 3, and finishing down Zhinan Rd,
Sec 3, is a classic. To avoid traffic around the university area, head into the campus and
follow the university ring road up to the lane marked 'Bike Shortcut'.
Walking & Hiking
With its light traffic conditions Maokong is a pleasant place just to stroll around on the
roads. Go left out of the gondola to head up the valley (it gets delightfully remote in feel
after a kilometre). Or head straight out along the main road and in about 200m look for a
sign on the right that leads to a wide trail running through the tea fields along retaining
walls.
Maokong has a range of hiking routes that can be combined for full-day excursions.
Trails are in good shape, natural (not staired like Yangmingshan), and many thickly
