Having heard that hiking was a popular pastime in Taiwan, I had long wanted to try it myself—but as mountains were far and I had execuses about my lack of experience, I managed to go. That changed when a friend invited me to hike in Maokong, and I eagerly accepted. Little did I know, the day would be full of delightful surprises! Since my friend wasn’t arriving until the afternoon, I decided to visit the Taipei Zoo, conveniently located in Maokong. I was stunned by the affordability—at the time, admission was only around 100 NTD—and the zoo itself was impressive, especially its panda exhibit. After exploring the zoo, my friend and I took a bus to the trailhead. I wish I could recount our exact route, but we ended up getting lost, the hike included! Still, the unplanned path led us past cascading waterfalls and breathtaking viewpoints. Maokong offers a variety of well-maintained trails, so even if you’re a beginner, there’s something for everyone. Our chosen route seemed endless, so we eventually retraced our steps and returned to the starting point. While waiting for the gondola, we tried Maokong’s famous ice cream—decent, but it's not worth your effort if your going to Maokong just for ice cream. We took the Gondola straight to Taipei Zoo MRT Station. The ride was spectacular, with sweeping views of lush greenery and the Taipei skyline. I’d highly recommend riding during the day, though, as once night fell, it's hard to see. Overall, a highly recommended destination! With lots to do, i'm sure you'll find something at Maokong which intrests you.