CityBuddy
Maokong Gondola
Best time to visit
Clear late afternoons, when the cliffside tea houses light up and the skyline glows during golden hour. Calmer weekday mornings suit anyone who wants the cabins mostly to themselves.
Budget tips
One way runs about NT$120, and the glass floored Crystal Cabins cost the same as standard cars. Pay with the same EasyCard used on the metro, and pair the ride with a zoo visit during the same trip to stretch the day.
Recommended for
Families, Photography enthusiasts, Nature lovers, Tea drinkers
Plan your visit
2-3 hours
About
Quick facts: The roughly 4.3 kilometer ride climbs over 1,000 meters, ending in a hillside village famous for oolong tea. Glass floored Crystal Cabins give riders a dizzying view of the jungle canopy directly below their shoes.
Highlights: Queue for a Crystal Cabin, where the entire floor is transparent glass, and watch the forest zip past over 200 meters below your feet. On a clear evening, the whole city lights up beneath you as the cabin sways its way up the hillside toward the glowing tea houses.
Insider tips
- Request a Crystal Cabin at the boarding gate, no extra charge, though the wait is usually longer.
- Snag a window seat for the final descent, since the best shots come right before sunset.
- Skip packaged snacks at the top and order tieguanyin tea at one of the overhanging cliff houses instead.
- Check wind warnings first, heavy gusts pause the whole system, so leave buffer time on stormy days.
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