Nanda & Nathan The Travellers: Hiking in Maokong 貓空, Taiwan

January 11, 2014 ---- Nathan and I have been to Maokong many times. It is a great place for dining, drinking locally grown tea, or hiking on many scenic trails. The best way to reach Maokong is by taking the Maokong Gondola 貓空纜車 from Taipei Zoo MRT Station. It has 3 stops: Taipei Zoo, Zhinan Temple and Maokong Station. If you are afraid of heights or the Gondola is closed due to bad weather, there are buses running up and down the mountains as well.

It isn't often that you get a sunny, nice day in Taipei, especially in the winter. Suddenly it was sunny and warm, so we just couldn't resist going out even though I had a test to study for. We took the Gondola all the way up to Maokong Station, had a fabulous local lunch, and then walked on many trails, including Camphor Tree Trail, Zhangshan Temple Trail, Zhinan School Trail, and Zhinan Temple Trail. In the end, it was a well-spent afternoon exploring the local tea fields, temples, and mountains.

There are so many beautiful trails in Maokong that you can hike. Where Nathan and I went wasn't much of a forest adventure but rather a cultural experience. Taiwan has a lot to offer. Put on your shoes and go explore!