Pizza at Maokong

Today we plan to take the Maokong Gondola to Maokong, a tea-growing area southeast of Taipei.  Together with the Taipei Zoo, this is a very popular activity for locals and foreigners.  Here is a short article on how to spend a day in the area. 

We had our usual excellent buffet breakfast at the Taipei Hilton Hotel Sinban.  There is such a wide selection of local Taiwanese, Asian and western breakfast that we can try different things on different mornings.  We have our favorites - sticky rice 糯米飯, noodle soup, Taiwanese porridge, fried crullers 油條, soba noodles, local fruits, etc.  The kids love the variety.  We always have a hearty breakfast before we head out.

First, we have to take the MRT to the Taipei Zoo.  We started at the Banqiao station on the Blue Line to Zhongxiao Fuxing station, then transferred to the Brown Line to the Taipei Zoo station at the end of the line.  After we get off the station, we walked about 100m to the Maokong Gondola.  There is no shade or shelter between the two so some of us had to break out our umbrellas.

A short sunny walk from the Taipei Zoo to the Maokong Gondola

It was not as crowded as we were expecting at the Maokong Gondola station, even though it was a Sunday.  It took us about 15 minutes to get on the Gondola.  For the kids this was the first time they have been on a gondola.  They love the feeling and the views.

Loving the gondola feeling

Ezra marveling at the view

This is so cool!

Some cotton candy before we get on the gondola

Are we at the State Fair?

All Aboard!

After about a 30-minute ride we are at the top of the mountain.  Historically, this has been an area covered with tea plantations.  There are still some small tea farms but this is becoming more of a tourist destination.  We were hoping to go to the Taipei Tea Promotion Center, where we can do some tea tasting.  Instead we took the wrong road that lead us deeper into the mountains.  We were hungry by then so we stopped at a restaurant that was able to accommodate us and has air-conditioning.  It was hot and humid by then.  The restaurant serves a mostly western menu.  What did we order?  Pizza!

Pizza at Maokong

We did not follow directions to go to the Tea Tasting Center

We settled for some pictures among the tea plants and tried to buy tea from a local farmer.  But, eventually the kids were tempted by an ice cream shop.

A Group Picture in front of the tea plants

Are these really tea?

Ice cream tastes better than tea

A Group Picture in front of the Maokong Station

Riding the Gondola is better than climbing up the mountain

Gondola cables and support

A Local Temple below the path of the Gondola

A beautiful ride back to the hotel on the MRT

Swimming at the rooftop hotel pool

We found a white bear between the MRT and Gondola stations

Something is funny between these two little ones

You have to stand when the train is crowded

Eddy and Mai-lon enjoying Mango Shaved Ice after a long day

After a long day it was a night off for everyone.  Everyone looked for their own dinners.  The Banqiao area has several big shopping malls.  Each has at least one food court and many restaurants.  Even the Banqiao station has many places to eat.  Walk a few blocks out you find older neighborhoods that has traditional Taiwanese cuisine.

Doris and I went to one of the big malls and found a variety of food.  We settled for some Japanese food.  We were ready to call it a day after dinner.