Taipei/Wenshan

Wenshan District is served by MRT Brown and Green Line).

City buses provide cheaper but slower access to Wenshan District.

• 🌍 The Maokong Gondola, ☏ +886 2 29378563. M-F 09:00-17:00, Sa Su 08:30-20:00. Closed Mondays, except every first one of the month. Runs from Taipei Zoo MRT station to Maokong, with stops at the Taipei Zoo South and Zhinan Temple stations. There are two types of cable cars - regular and crystal, which has a clear bottom. You have to select which type of car to board. There's no difference in ticket or price, only in waiting time. The line for the crystal cars takes much longer. However, it's not worth the wait as the view from the bottom of the crystal car is pretty much the same as the view you get from the sides of the regular car. Two bus lines serve the Maokong area: bus number S10, which departs from the Wanfang Community MRT Station, and bus number BR15, which can be boarded at the Taipei Zoo and Taipei City Hall MRT stations. NT$70/100/120 (1/2/3 station(s)), NT$20 off with EasyCard during weekdays. (updated Dec 2019)

As the two metro lines serving Wenshan stop at opposite ends of the district, transportation within the area is mainly by bus. Bus BR 6 connects the brown line and the green line, and there are various other routes within the district.

• 🌍 Zhang Nai Miao Memorial Hall (張迺妙茶師紀念館) (follow the directions for Maokong above). A small and intimate museum built in memory of tea master Zhang Nai Miao, who brought the first Tieguanyin plants from Anxi, Fujian to Zhanghu, Muzha, which marked the beginning of Tieguanyin tea cultivation in the area. 

• 🌍 Jingmei Jiying Temple (景美集應廟) (the closest MRT station is the Jingmei Station). Jingmei Jiying Temple honors Zhang Xun and Xu Yuan, both of whom fought and died bravely during the An Shi rebellion. It is one of Taiwan's designated historic monuments and a great example of Qing dynasty temple architecture. 
• 🌍 Zhinan Temple (指南宮) (follow the directions for Maokong above and get off at Zhinan Temple Station). One of the most important of Taiwan's early Taoist temples, Zhinan Temple is dedicated to main deity Lu Dongbin, one of the Eight Immortals, and various other deities. 
• 🌍 Tian'en Temple (天恩宮), No. 37-2, Lane 38, Section 3, Zhinan Road, ☏ +886 2 2938 2888. A 4-storey Taoist temple dedicated to an ecclectic mix of deities. (updated May 2020)

There are numerous tea gardens in the Maokong (貓空; cat's hollows) and Muzha Tea Plantations (木柵觀光茶園) area, most of which are concentrated in Zhinan Road, Sec 3. Local Oolong tea specialties include Muzha Tieguanyin (木柵鐵觀音) and Wenshan Baozhong (文山包種茶).

Many tea makers have tasting rooms for sampling the latest teas, or will do so by appointment.

• 🌍 Taipei Tea Promotion Center (台北市茶研發推廣中心), 8-2, Lane 40, Zhinan Road, Sec. 3, ☏ +886 2 2939-1473. Offers introduction to tea picking, processing, brewing and free taste testing. Free. 

The Wenshan District is nestled between beautiful green mountains crisscrossed with hiking trails. Signposts also include GPS coordinates. Some of the most popular trails are:

• 🌍 Xianjiyan hiking trail (仙跡岩步道). Many curious visitors come here to see a footprint supposedly left by the Taoist deity Lu Dongbin. The view from Xianjiyan trail includes natural vistas as well as a bird's eye view of the southern districts of Taipei. Located on the hill behind Jingmei Night Market, this nicely built and well-marked network of trails also features a temple located along the trail. The main trails are all paved with concrete or raised wooden walkways, and are lit with lamps at night, so you can go for an evening walk or watch the sunset from the summit. There are no technically difficult trails, but be prepared to climb a long, steep stairway to get on top of the hill. 
• Zhinan Temple & Cihui Temple hiking trail (指南宮&慈惠宮步道). In addition to the beauty of the temples, visitors can also enjoy an excellent view of the Taipei Basin, Danshui River, and Guanyinshan. 
• 🌍 Zhangshan Temple hiking trail (樟山寺步道). Offers spectacular views of the Taipei basin and Taipei 101 from in front of Zhangshan Temple. 
• Ergeshan (二格山). This is an excellent choice for a moderately strenuous hike lasting several hours. Ergeshan is the highest peak along a ridge trail extending from Shiding in the east to Ankeng in the West. The peak of Ergeshan is at the border of the Wenshan District and Taipei County. The hike to the ridge can be a challenge, but the ridge trail is excellent, offering spectacular views and the occasional glimpse of monkeys in the woods. 
• Riverside Park. Not a hiking trail, but popular among those out for a relaxed stroll. The various sections of the park run most of the length of Jingmei Stream, the main body of water in Wenshan District. The park is characterized by large grassy areas interspersed with public sports facilities (such as tennis courts and softball diamonds). It's a good place to go for casual exercise or for viewing the bird life around the creek (herons and egrets are a common sight). 

• 🌍 Fudekeng Environmental Restoration Park (福德坑環保復育公園). The park houses the first photovoltaic power station in Taipei. (updated May 2020)
• 🌍 Muzha Park (木柵公園), No. 50, Section 4, Xinglong Road. If you come at the right time of year, this is a good place to see fireflies. (updated May 2020)

• 🌍 Jingmei Night Market (景美夜市) (take the MRT Xindian (Green) Line to Jingmei Station). Many small street vendors and shops selling items including various snack foods, clothes, and accessories. Businesses in the night market typically open around 16:00 and stay open well past midnight. 

• Taipei Visitors Hostel, 100 Roosevelt Rd, Wanlong. This hostel is more like a shared accommodation than a hostel. Visitors are able to choose the duration of their stay. The company has two locations and unlike normal hostels, all rooms are separate, each containing a double bed. Prices start at NT$3000 per week.