Maokong Gondola

In the southern most region of Taipei is the infrequently visited yet fascinating Muzha region. With a proper guide, Yu Lee showed me around this spectacular hillside region that leaves the hustle and bustle of the city behind and offers the tranquil serenity of rural Taipei. The first stop on the tour was the well laid out Taipei Zoo, housing expansive beautiful gardens and a massive collection of animals from around the world. From lazy Asiatic bears to koalas lounging in tree tops this zoo has a lot to offer. I even got my first glimpse of a giant panda doing runway model walks for on lookers.

The gondola, although simply a mode of transport for people like Yu who are fortunate enough to be residents in this spectacular place, proved to be a memorizing experience for me. Riding up the mountain in a swinging gondola bound for Maokong at the top, provided views of the lush misty mountains dotted by temples, and was simply breathtaking. At the top we stopped for some amazing food including fried rice, stinky tofu, and gelatinous duck blood as the midday rains commenced.

Maokongs’ lush green rolling hills also lay home to the tea district of Taipei. Quaint little tea shops lay hidden in the rolling hills of an abundance of various tea plants, releasing tantalizing aromas and offering stunning views. The silence of the region offers a perfect place to relax and inspires intellectual conversation.

Further down the mountain nestled in the cliffs is the Zhinan Temple and its’ surrounding palaces giving a grand overview into the valley from its stone steps. The temple is extremely unique in its’ indoor design with night stars on the ceiling, fluffy clouds projecting from the walls to meet the night sky, and lined with hundreds of gold statues of individuals that bring luck to people born in every month of every year. One of the surrounding palaces offers locals and travelers alike a place to stop for coffee and tea with delicious side snacks including garlic fried lima beans all for free.  It made for perfect place to wind down and end a magnificent day.