Taipei City Geotechnical Engineering Office

Maokong nestles in Taipei City’s mountainous Wenshan District. Thanks to its location near downtown and the convenience of the “Maokong Gondola”, Maokong has become a perfect site for residents to participate in all kinds of fun activities during their holidays, such as tasting aromatic tea, gazing at the glistening city skyline after dark, or strolling through the woods. As a part of the collaborative efforts between Maokong residents and the Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO), land owners from the private sector gave GEO the permission to set up the “Taipei Tea Promotion Center for Tieguanyin Tea and Baozhong Tea” on their properties. Along with Mingde Temple, the two facilities will be converted into Maokong’s brand-new landmarks.

Huang Li-yuan, the Director of GEO, said the Mini Skywalk is a unique horseshoe-shaped elevated boardwalk made of steel wood. Leaning on the teapot-inspired railing of the skywalk, which extends 80 meters from the cliff, visitors can enjoy a 360-degree bird’s-eye view of Wenshan District as well as the elegance of the Maokong valley, without having to travel all the way to Xiaowulai. Equipped with a solar-powered nighttime lighting system, the Mini Skywalk  incorporates features that support the goal of energy saving and carbon reduction, enabling visitors to take casual strolls in the mountains in an eco-friendly manner.

Lying across from the Mini Skywalk is the heart-shaped “Tong-xin Pond” , which was ingeniously reworked from an existing pool by GEO according to a romantic tale widely known among local residents.. A hallmark of superior craftsmanship, this small eco-pond is embellished with shrubs to provide a habitat for wildlife. The ancient “God-of-Marriage’s Tree” and Japanese-style “In Love Forever Pavilion” are two nearby must-see attractions for couples. The latter, as with the Tong-xin Pond, is  symbolic of two “joined hearts”, signifying an everlasting, romantic love.

Climbing up the modest yet striking cherry blossom tree-lined trail opposite Mingde Temple (Ln. 45, Laoquan St.), hikers will be greeted by an expansive panoramic view,  suggesting that the hilltop is less than a 5 minute walk away, said Xia Xian-tong, the Chief of GEO’s Industrial and Trail Section. Being on the simple but elegant hilltop observatory, visitors can immerse themselves in Maokong’s distinctive mountain town ambiance while gazing at the awe-inspiring bird’s eye view of the Taipei Basin. What’s more, they will be able to see the meandering ridgelines in a distance, which is an unparalleled view in Taipei.

According to Zhang Jia-nan and Gao Jin-lai, who head Zhinan Village and Laoquan Village, respectively, GEO’s all-out effort to build an excellent hiker-friendly environment in Maokong has not only been praised across the neighborhood, but it has also built a vivid “brand image” for this culturally sophisticated place. They invite people to spend their weekends on exploring the hiking trail in the geologically and ecologically diverse Maokong. The area is easily accessible by the Maokong Gondola and the city’s extensive bus network.

Mini Skywalk: the “In Love Forever Pavilion”


Mini Skywalk: the heart-shaped “Tong-Xin Pond”


A panoramic view of the Mini Skywalk


The Mini Skywalk observatory

The viewing platform of Mini Skywalk


The cherry tree-lined hiking trail


A trail-side observation deck


The hiking trail: specially designed railing and pedestrian path


The hiking trail: mosaic mural

Transportation information
1. Mini Skywalk ( “Tong-Xin Pond” and “In Love Forever Pavilion”)
a. Maokong Gondola: get off at Maokong Station and walk 30 minutes toward the Tea Promotion Center.
b. Mini-bus 10: get off at Maokong.
c. Brown 15 bus: get off at Sanxuan Temple and walk 30 minutes toward Taipei Tea Promotion Center to enjoy the Tieguanyin Tea and Baozhong Tea.”.
d. Maokong Route (left) (Taipei Zoo): get off at Maokong.
e. Maokong Route (left) (Zhinan Temple): get off at Maokong.
2. The hiking trail (observatory)
a. Maokong Gondola: get off at Maokong Station and walk along “Zhangshu- Zhanghu Hiking Trail” for 1 hour.
b. Mini-bus 10: get off at Zhangshan Temple and walk 5 minutes toward Mingde Temple.
c. Brown 15 bus: get off at Zhangshan Temple and walk 5 minutes toward Mingde Temple.
d. Brown 15 bus (shuttle): get off at Zhangshan Temple and walk 5 minutes toward Mingde Temple.
e. Maokong Route (right): get off at Zhangshan Temple and walk 5 minutes toward Mingde Temple.