Your adventure commences with a scenic ride on the Maokong Gondola, designed for leisurely travel, boasts the lengthiest route, offering awe-inspiring aerial vistas of Southern Taipei. This picturesque ride offers stunning mountain scenery from a lofty vantage point, making it a favored activity among foreign tourists exploring Taipei.
The Maokong Tea Fragrance Loop Trail comprises four short, paved paths. Along the trail, you’ll encounter beautiful natural features like potholes, waterfalls, and forests, all visible during the hike. The Maokong Zhangshu Trail is another beloved leisure trail among the locals, you’ll discover the terraced fields, ponds, tea gardens, and more, creating the sensation of stepping into an idyllic picture as you stroll through this scenic landscape.
The Taipei Tea Promotion Center for Tieguanyin and Baozhong serves as a leisurely park dedicated to showcase the exceptional quality and authenticity of Taiwan’s Tieguanyin and Baozhong teas. Visitors can gain insights into the evolution of Taiwanese tea and ecological knowledge through the informational exhibits.
After a few hours of walking, you might find yourself hungry and craving some local foods. Beyond its scenic beauty, Maokong is a hotspot for tea tasting. Abound with teahouses, most of them offer freshly brewed teas and meals, allowing you to enjoy a delectable lunch in the delightful aroma of tea at your own expense.
Following lunch, your tour proceeds with a visit to Thousand Island Lake in Shiding, a rural area celebrated for its tea cultivation and stunning landscapes. The catchment area around the Feitsui Reservoir, nestled among hills, creates a distinctive scenery—a lake adorned with numerous islands.
The Bagua Tea Plantation also locates in this area. When viewed from the hilltop, the neatly planted rows of tea bushes resemble the symbols of Eight Trigrams, which inspired the plantation’s name.
After indulging in the natural tea aroma, your tea tour continues to uncover the intricacies of tea processing and its evolution. ThePinglin Tea Museum, houses a rich collection of traditional harvesting tool, etc., offering insights into the history and evolution of Taiwan’s tea industry.
While in Pinglin, you can’t miss the chance to savor authentic Taiwanese tea at a local tea shop. You will have the opportunity to sample various types of Taiwanese tea during your visit.
