23 Dec 2025 - TPE Day 3: Maokong (猫空) and Sunset Viewing

As we stepped out of the gondola, we walked up to a viewing platform and had a panoramic view of the surrounding at Maokong. The weather was good and we could see Taipei 101 clearly from here.

Maokong is a hillside area renowned for its tea culture, cooler air, and panoramic views. There are many walking trails. We decided to walk to some nearby teahouses. For info, Maokong is best known for Tieguanyin tea.

Maokong isn’t about rushing. We took the gentle walking paths, and slowly strolled to scenic viewpoints, and open-air terraces. While we wandered between tea houses and paused at a lookout, we were able to enjoy the cooler mountain breeze as the day winded down.

We then returned to the starting point where we had some local snacks before moving up to the viewing deck for the sunset.

Sunset at Maokong was calm, expansive, and quietly memorable. As the sun began to dip, the light softened over the tea-covered hills, turning the greenery into layers of warm gold and deep green.

From the elevated viewpoints, the land opened up, giving us a wide, uninterrupted view across southern Taipei. The sky gradually shifted in colour from pale blue fading into warm amber, soft orange, and hints of pink. Buildings and roads slowly lose definition, while the hills around Maokong darkened into gentle silhouettes, framing the horizon.

Far beyond the forested slopes, the city began to glow. One by one, lights flicker on, forming a delicate web of illumination that spreads across the urban landscape.

As twilight deepened, the last traces of colour lingered at the horizon, and the mood becomes almost meditative. It was so relaxed as we sat on the grass patch and enjoyed the wonderful atmosphere.

As the last warmth of sunset faded, the sky shifted into muted purples and deepening blues, the colours thinning out until only a faint glow remained along the horizon.

What was once a soft, hazy cityscape gradually sharpening into points of light. Streets formed glowing ribbons, buildings lighted up floor by floor, and familiar landmarks became easier to pick out, not by shape but by illumination.

We waited for the crowd at the gondola station to lessen before making our descent from Maokong.

We had a beautiful city night view from the gondola as we descended from Maokong hill.

From the gondola station at the base, it's just a short walk to the metro station.

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