After a 30-min drive, begin your exploration into the world of Taiwanese tea from Maokong. Located in southern part of Taipei City, Maokong is a popular destination for tea lovers, hikers, and those seeking panoramic views of the city. Once a major tea-producing area, Maokong is now known for its traditional teahouses, scenic hiking trails, and the captivating Maokong Gondola.
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. Known as the easiest hiking trail in Maokong, it’s suitable for individuals of all ages. The Maokong Zhangshu Trail is another beloved leisure trail among the locals, particularly during the blooming season of Lupinus. Along this trail, 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. By exploring the center, visitors can gain insights into the evolution of Taiwanese tea and ecological knowledge through the informational exhibits, tea panning machines, and more.
After a few hours of walking, you might find yourself hungry and craving some local foods. Maokong, a popular place for a nature getaway in suburban Taipei, nestled in the mountains, offers prime locations to enjoy stunning panoramic views of the Taipei Basin. 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, after 1-hour drive, your tea tour proceeds with a visit to Thousand Island Lake in Shiding District, New Taipei City. 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. Its resemblance to the Thousand Island Lake in China has bestowed upon it the same name.
The natural terrain and climate create an ideal environment for tea cultivation in the surrounding area of Feitsui Reservoir. 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. The Pinglin Tea Museum, a Hokkien-style Siheyuan architecture, embodying the traditional dwelling of Taiwan, inviting the visitors to delve into the world of Taiwanese tea. This museum houses a rich collection of traditional harvesting tools, tea sets, samples, and more, offering insights into the history and evolution of Taiwan’s tea industry. Additionally, the interactive equipment within the museum offers visitors an immersive, sensory-rich experience.
While in Pinglin, you can’t miss the chance to savor authentic Taiwanese tea at a local tea shop. The tea sommelier will demonstrate the proper brewing techniques to bring out the flavors of the tea leaves, making your tea more aromatic and enhancing your tea tasting experience. Moreover, you will have the opportunity to sample various types of Taiwanese tea during your visit.
On the way back to our meeting point, you can choose to be dropped off at Taipei 101.
It was great experience, specially knowing about Tea making and type of tea.Tea garden beautiful and Also the view from temple.
Tony was a great tour guide and fun to talk to. Got to see some great views and enjoy nice tea. Our group was rather small so it felt much more laid back and without any rush. Good experience overall
For being a full-day outing especially, the pace and overall vibe was very relaxed, while not too slow! A delightful combination of nature, history and culture, with plenty of treats to nibble and sip on along the way. Learned a lot, had a great time.
For tea lovers who enjoy learning about the process and history of tea making, this is a great choice. Two stops for tea tasting and visits to an excellent museum and tea promotion center give you a good overall picture. You also see tea bushes growing and have an opportunity for a little walking, great views, riding the Maokong gondola, and some shopping along an old street. My guide Jenny and driver David were both excellent and I would highly recommend them!
I booked this experience to learn more about Taiwan’s tea culture through the lens of a local, and it was absolutely worth every penny. While there is a good amount of walking, the shuttle van was fantastic—picking us up, taking us to every location listed, and dropping us back off at the start. Even though the tour ran from 8:30 AM to around 5:00 PM, the pacing was perfect; we took our time at every stop and never felt rushed.It was a group tour, and I had a great time sharing the day with three other travelers. A huge shout-out to our guide, Tony! He was incredibly informative, knowledgeable, and genuinely the kindest person I’ve met on my trip. His warm aura and welcoming demeanor truly highlighted the entire experience. You can tell he takes real joy in sharing his knowledge and pointing out what truly matters. He created such a wonderful learning atmosphere and—as a helpful bonus for a foreigner—always made sure to point out bathroom locations. I highly recommend this tour!
There is some walking that gives a better view and understanding of life outside Taipei. We ate lunch in a rustic outdoor area next to the family's tea farm, then had a tea tasting experience, followed by a visit to the Tea Museum
If you're only in Taiwan for a few days and you're focusing your time in the Taipei area, this tour is a great way to get out into the countryside and see more of the country, even though you're never more than, like, 20 miles from Taipei 101. I like tea, but I wouldn't say I'm a huge connoisseur or have much knowledge about it, so this was interesting and sort of like doing a wine tour in France - seeing the plants, learning about the production process, and having proper tastings to learn how to best enjoy the product. Honestly, even if you're not really into tea, you could find this tour interesting (and the tea we tasted was pretty weak compared to what I'm used to, so if it's not usually your thing, you could probably muddle through). Walter was a very good guide, too, and very knowledgable. I didn't really know what to expect, but it was lovely! It was also only a small group of five, which made us nimble and didn't feel like you're part of a herd; we actually got to chatting with the other tour-goers, which was nice. The only critique I have was that the lunch stop in Shenkeng is not great if you're not into stinky tofu. If you are, then you're in luck! Because they're famous for it and, well, the whole Shenkeng Old Street reeks of the stuff. I'm not a fan and so it was tough to avoid the smell when trying to find something a bit more palatable. This wasn't listed as the lunch stop on the TripAdvisor itinerary so I hope that Edison will consider changing this up - even Taiwanese people will say that stinky tofu is an acquired taste, so going somewhere with more options and somewhere that doesn't have that ambient stench in the air would be preferable. Otherwise, this is a fun, unique itinerary that's worth checking out!
As far as I can tell, this appears to the tour (with Edison Tours) that I took. Although the tour at the time was called 'Pinglin Tea Culture/Elephant Mountain Day tour', the itinerary appears to be the same. It was a great small-group tour, with an excellent guide (can't remember the name of the guide, sorry). We started with a drive to the ThousandIsland Lake (Tei-Tsui reservoir), a very beautiful area with many tea plantations on the hillsides. We stopped at a tea plantation for a bit of an explanation about tea and how it is grown. We also had the opportunity to buy tea products (but no pressure to do so). After this we drove to the Pinglin Tea Museum, which was interesting, and which also had a very nice garden setting. We then visited the Pinglin Old Street, a street that preserves traditional Taiwanese architecture. While here, we went to a shop where we had a demonstration of how tea is traditionally prepared, and got to taste different varieties of local tea. We also had an hour to explore Pinglin Old Street. There we could get lunch if we wished (at our own cost). The day ended with a drive to the Maokong area, where we walked on the Zhangsha trail downhill for about 40 minutes, ending at a temple with a beautiful view over part of Taipei from its terrace, after which we took the Maokong gondola down to the valley, and then were taken back to our starting point. Overall it was a great introduction to some of the beautiful scenery around Taipei, and also the the tea culture in Taiwan.,
We had an amazing time. Kuan and Qiu are the dynamic duo. They made the tour fun. Their energy and vibe was just heart felt and warm. We had a great time just talking and enjoying each other’s company. If anyone is interested in doing this tour, I highly recommend requesting Kuan and Qiu if you want to have a memorable tour experience
Tony was a great guide. He is very knowledgeable about teas and about Taiwan. If you like tea, this tour is for you.
Good day trip to learn more about tea culture in Taiwan and to have better knowledge on the different types of Chinese teas.
The tour was amazing! Our tour guide Kevin Su was a wonderful and super friendly guide who knew everything about the area, and explained everything thoroughly. Whenever we needed pictures of us taken, he would take them without hesitation. A lot of times, he would even offer to take pictures of us without us even asking. In addition, the views of the thousand island lake along with the tea plants were simply wonderful!
Very nice visit of less touristy areas around Taipei! The tea testing was especially interesting; I felt I got a taste of tawainese culture. Chiara and our flutist Driver were very nice and accomodating. Chiara knows a lot about Taiwan, it was so interesting!
I had great experience in this tour! The tour guide Tawei Yu was very helpful and knowledgeable. He assisted me in my challenging situations during travel. Very heartwarming! The tea tasting experience was fantastic. We also saw birds like Galapagos, which was beyond my expectations. Highly recommend this tour!
Gordon took my child and I on a private "Pinglin Tea Culture and Maokong" day tour. It was a great experience and we were well taken care of the whole day, going from site to site, getting grand mountain and tea farm views and walks, and learning many aspects of tea production and culture. The brand new tour vehicle was comfortable and the expert driver was fantastic at smoothly and safely navigating all the mountain roads. For a short stay in Taipei this is a fantastic way to get to experience the countryside and get out of the busy city for a day!
This tour was a great way to get out of the city and enjoy the beautiful nature and tea culture that Taiwan has to offer. Chiara was an amazing tour guide! Super personable, kind, and knowledgeable. She did a great job of explaining everything, and was kind enough to point out the best photo opportunities at every stop. If you are in Taipei, love tea, and enjoy sweeping views, I highly recommend this tour!
If your a tea lover you will definitely love this tour. We traveled with two toddlers 4 and 3. Make sure to bring snacks.
Christina was excellent and the private vehicle clean. The guide was attentive and punctual. She took me to scenic spots where beautiful pics could be taken
The pick up location was easy to find. The tour guide, Kia was great. Enjoyed this tour immensely. Don't forget your motion sickness meds as the roads going up mountain are windy.
All day tour. We got about an hour outside of Taipei city, then worked our way back in to the city. The tea tasting with a tea master was great. It’s a great tour if you’ve already covered the downtown Taipei stuff (Taipei 101, Chiang Kei shek memorial, etc.)
The tour guide was good. I think the tour would be even better if each person had an electronic audio box (whisper). This way each person could hear the guide as they are walking and not having to be right up close so you don’t miss anything. The meeting point instructions were confusing as well. We were told to meet at the MRT station, take the escalator downstairs and meet the representative. We did and waited 5 mins past the meeting time, until we realized that the representative was upstairs and did not meet us at the appointed place. Luckily they contacted us and waited.
We had great family (family of size 6) fun exploring Pinglin and learning about Tea. Kia was an amazing guide, connecting with everyone in our group, and showing us around Pinglin and the wider area. We enjoyed learning about tea, drinking tea, while exploring the area with family photos and a great family experience!
This was a beautiful day, admiring the mountains around Taipei and being able to see and learn about the terraces of tea fields. Views were amazing. And the Shenkeng old street was fun. Lots of walking and even an old style tea tasting. I really enjoyed this group tour.
Really enjoyed the entire trip but especially the tea tasting at Pinglin. The tea master was so interesting and expert in tea and serving tea. We learned so much about Taiwanese tea. The tea museum was also very well presented and showed how tea and desert were presented during the various dynasties. We got to see the scenic towns outside of Taipei. Our guide, Chester, was very good. He was very patient with the 6 of us. Our driver was also very good, drove expertly and safely.
Tony did an excellent job guided us through the history of the Tea as well as the tea fields themselves.
Chiara did a great job making us feel welcome and patiently explained Taiwan tea culture and history. The tea terraces were beautiful and we enjoyed learning about the different stages of production.
Tony was the best guide we ever had. He took us to the places we could never visit ourselves. He explained well both history and culture. He went beyond and above. We appreciated him very much.
This tour was a nice trip to south of Taipei. We enjoyed beautiful landscapes at a leisure pace with our friendly guide, Jackie, who was mindful of everyone needs in the group. The tour is well organized with a comfortable bus and van for smaller roads. However we saw only one small tea field at the beginning of the tour and didn't learn much about tea. Other tea tasting in Taiwan had gave us more information on tea culture and tea variety than the tour. The tea ceremony is also the same as any tea tasting in Taiwan tea shop / tea house with less precise information. Very limited time was given for the tea museum so we didn't have the time to read all the information in there. I would recommend the tour if you don't have the opportunity to try tea in Taiwan or if you don't know anything about tea culture. The tour is good also if you don't want to travel on your own in this area of new taipei city as it was still a nice journey.
This tea tour in Taipei is a delightful exploration of Taiwanese tea culture. We started with a gondola ride to Maokong that provides a beautiful view of Taipei and the surrounding mountains. A walk through the beautiful nature followed and we stopped shortly at a Buddhist temple. Btw, almost everywhere on this tour there were tea plants to be discovered. The day continued to the tea museum and then to a tea tasting, where a tea sommelier demonstrated proper brewing techniques and offered a variety of local (award winning) teas to taste and shop. The final stop of the tour was the stunning Thousand Island Lake, a sight not to be missed. The guide on this tour was not only friendly but also highly competent, with great English skills that made the whole tour accessible for non-Chinese speakers like us. Not to forget - both thumbs up for our kind driver. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in tea or looking for a peaceful retreat into nature while visiting Taipei.
Overall, it was a good experience. The guide was experienced and knew the answer to all my questions. He allowed a flexible schedule to allow the group to decide how long each section took.
It was a great experience overall. Thanks to Molly from Edison Tour for the informative tours on the day. Highly recommended for those who want to experience tea culture.
Thank you SO much Mr Walter -The BEST tour guide- for an unforgettable day with so much learnings, history, and appreciations of Taiwan! 谢谢 老师
A well rounded cultural experience of Taipei. Starting with the Pinglin Tea plantation mountain. Participate in a tea ceremony sampling delicious local teas. Stop for lunch at old Shenkeng Street and try the famous stinky tofu delicacy. End the tour with a staircase hike up to Elephant Mountain right behind Taipei 101 tower for great city views. Had a fun tour guide, Jacky keep the day rolling with good humour and to time.
The tour was great. Our guide Jackie spoke fluent English and our favorite is the tea tasting. One advice, if you want to buy great tea, bring cash. They do not accept credit card due to the small scale of the tea shops. Hiking to the top of Elephant mountain was awesome. Great opportunity to get some exercise while getting a panoramic view of the city
This is a 3 part tour with a mix of experiences. We did not venture far from Taipei. But the scenery was so different. The tea plantation was picturesque and so quiet. Able to take some amazing pictures. Then we headed off to a tea shop to try 3 different variety of teas served the traditional way. The owner was very knowledgeable and engaging. No pressure to buy and answered lots of questions. Finally the hike up the elephant mountains was short but challenging. You an do more if time allows. A great view of Taipei at the top.
Fantastic tour! Signed up as a solo traveler thinking I'd join a group but I was the only one, so it was a private tour! Paul was an excellent guide through and through. Caring, knowledgeable, and funny. Because I was the only one, we were able to do things at my pace. Paul was great at translating at the tea house. Also appreciated our driver; the van was comfortable and I felt safe during the very windy roads. The landscapes are beautiful. Elephant Mountain was strenuous but worth it. If you're not sure about the climb, then definitely sign up for the half day tea experience through the same company, just without the hike.
Fantastic experience really great host who explained everything. He was super interesting I will 100 percent request him again. The tour it's self was fantastic I did not realise how beautiful Taiwan is
Wow! What an amazing experience. Our tour guy, Joseph was very kind, professional, and knowledgeable, especially how he explained the way how the tea is processed and the origin of the tea. We definitely recommend this tour! We had a great time. Thanks! The Chao family
Highly recommend this tour! The scenery was gorgeous, the guides are so nice and welcoming and our entire group had a great time! Accommodations were made for varying levels of physical fitness during the more difficult hiking parts. This tour was a good way to leave Taipei proper to see the surrounding area.
My trip to Shiding, Pinglin and Shenken Old Street was a wonderful experience. My tour guide, Mr. Joseph, was very attentive and caring. He made sure I could see and learn about everything that was of interest to me. He also facilitated my discussions with some very interesting and kind people, discussion about tea, about tea ceramics, incence and woodwork. This day trip was a great way to start my vacation in Taiwan! Thank you very much, Mr. Joseph, and to your colleagues from Edison Tours, for making sure everything went so well!❤️
Mr. Hayashi, our guide, was very kind and helpful. When I asked them in advance if they could speak Japanese via chat, they immediately replied with a firm promise, and I was able to participate in the tour with peace of mind. Mr. Chen, the driver, was also a good driver, smiling and nice.
You can travel by Taiwan Express, if you use a Taiwan travel card, the cost is 300 Taiwanese yen, if the time permission is unlimited to ride back, unlimited number of times. The air on the mountain is fresh and the scenery is beautiful. In the cabin you can see the 101 building and the large green fireplace. The dawn and evening are the best time to travel, but wearing more clothes to keep cool. Optionally, you can ride a car on the bottom of the glass for more than 50 cents.
It is a very complete and well thought out tour. With all kinds of nice stop moments and little walks, the guide explains everything. It is a beautiful piece of nature outside TP and you walk all small pieces along tea plantations. Eventually you will taste the tea in a real Chinese Tea Shop, at a farmer’s house. Everything is in Chinese, so it's great to have an English-speaking guide. The museum is also very interesting. Lunch happens in an old street somewhere, which is a bit touristy. The day ended with the gondola and a beautiful walk along all kinds of vegetable gardens, ending at a temple, where the guide also told all kinds of things about the flora. All in all a very nice or all-round experience.
This was the first family trip abroad I was looking forward to. I went to the meeting place on the day and was told I didn't know, I was sent a ticket. It's canceled on its own. And there's no way to contact him! What do you mean!?
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