Maokong

貓空

Taipei · Taipei CityMap ↗

7Views

5Crowds

0Hike

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Tonight’s sky score in the app →

Hike: 0; but there are some trails at the top you can hike if you so choose

Getting there & back

Nearest station & last ride

Maokong Station (Gondola) | Last gondola: 21:00 weekdays/22:00 weekends to Taipei Zoo (Timetables)

MRT Taipei Zoo Station | Last Brown Line train: 00:00 to Taipei Zoo (Brown line has no timetables)

Maokong Gondola | Last bus BR15: 23:00 weekdays/00:00 weekends to Taipei Zoo (Timetables)

More info here: Link

ParkingThere is street parking on the main street that passes through the tea plantations/restaurants.

EntryA ticket to the gondola: $50 – $120 from Taipei Zoo Station (details) Pay for food/drinks at a restaurant with a balcony or viewing platform.

Lit after darkYes

Popular for night viewsYes

More places hereGondola end · Wangyuan Pavilion · Camphor Tree Trail start

Is tonight worth it at Maokong?

The app scores every spot from the forecast at its own sunset hour, with the seven-day outlook and the last train home. Six spots are free.

Get it onGoogle Play Coming soonApp Store

The spot

Southeast of downtown Taipei, Maokong is an area up in the mountains famous for its tea, gondola, and panoramic views of Taipei in the distance. From atop Maokong, you can go to a few different places to get a good sunset. Additionally, the long gondola ride (you can take it all the way up, or get off partway to the top) gives you plenty of gorgeous views of the sunset. Maokong is also a popular place to catch the night view.

It’s not easy to find an unobstructed view atop Maokong. If you have your own transportation, I’d recommend trying out Wangyuan Pavilion (望遠亭), a popular sunset/night sky viewpoint.

There are also a number of tea shops, restaurants, and cafes at Maokong that have a second floor or viewing balcony with wonderful views, but likely require you to eat there. Choose from the good tea restaurants where you can simultaneously eat, drink sensational locally grown tea, and watch the sun go down.

You can also walk around the main road and get a free sunset with rolling tea plantations in the foreground.

Or you can see the sunset along with flowers/trees/other scenery along one of the trails atop the mountain. The most popular and easiest to get to (it starts right next to Maokong Station) is the Camphor Tree Trail.

But arguably the best place to see the sunset (and the best way to get to the top) at Maokong is from the gondola, which gives a 360 panorama of the mountainous Wenshan district and beyond. The gondola connects to Taipei Zoo Station, and you can check into it just like you do the MRT. It takes 25 minutes or so to get all the way to the top. You can choose “Crystal Cabins” with glass floors or just regular cabins. Seeing through the floor has no effect on the sunset, although some people like to see the mountains and trees below.

Besides the gondola, you can also take a bus (BR15) or drive to the top. For those of you with cars or scooters, there is ample parking on the main road with all the restaurants. When taking this route, be on alert as it involves winding mountain roads.

Recent shots on Instagram #貓空