Go Taiwan: Taipei Zoo, Maokong Gondola

September 30, 2015

Here comes our day 4 in Taiwan. Luckily me and Gracie both were free after 12pm and we decided to spend the rest of the day at Taiwan Zoo and Maokong.

We haven't really do a research and our trip were all mostly spontaneous. So, after changing our dress then yeap, search google map and Go!

It took us around 50 mins just to reach Taipei Zoo. When we arrived there, we only realized that the zoo closed quite early and mostly the animals will back to their cage around 4 like that lar....

Aiks, so our recommendation is please come earlier, because there are too much to see and you know what? Its the biggest zoo in south east asia. Hmm, prepare a pair of good shoes too so your leg wont wear down so easily.

Here is the opening time of zoo.
Opening Times
Open year round ever day (except for Chinese New Year's eve, 18 February 2015).
Zoo Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (no entry after 4:00 p.m.)
Animals Exhibit: 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (indoor and outdoor exhibits)



Non stop taking pictures from the entrance till the end although the weather is 37degree. Haha, girls being girls.


This is our itinerary .
We picked something that are not available in Malaysia such as Desert , African Animal and  Koala house.

Discovering Tropical Rainforest Tour
Enter and turn left → Panda House ,Koala House→ Temperate Zone Animal Area → Desert/Australian Animal Area → African Animal Area → indoor → End
With the cuteeee black bears ^^ 

There are two categories: The outdoor and indoor areas.
The outdoor comprises 
  1. Formosan Animal Area
  2. Children's zoo
  3. Asian tropical Rain Forest Area.
  4. Desert Animal Area
  5. Australian Animal Area
  6. African Animal Area
  7. Temperate Zone Animal Area
  8. Bird World.



Whereas the Indoor display areas comprises 
  • Panda House
  • Education Center
  • Koala House
  • Penguin House
  • Amphibian and Reptile House
  • Insectarium


Temperate zone area
Many of the species on display here, such as the lesser panda, lynx, bears and wild horses, are rare even in their original range of distribution. 

Desert Animal Area
Dry with high fluctuations in temperature is everyone's impressions of deserts. The bare terrain and drought-resistant flora lives are home to the oryx, various antelopes, and the two species of camels.
The most lovable animals from Australia, koalas brought in from the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, are on display here. The first two arrived at Taipei Zoo in August, 1999. Two more koalas came a year later. A baby koala, named Q-be, was born in July 2003, and came out of the mother's pouch early this year. 


There also a zoo- theme painted shuttle train that could fetch us from the Koala house up to the bird World. It really helps us in saving the time of walking.
Internal Shuttle Train / Bus
Single Ride: NT$ 5 (exact change).
Route:Shuttle Train Station ←→ Bird World StationBird World Station ←→ Maokong Gondola Taipei Zoo South Station (Only operating on Tuesday-Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)Shuttle Train Station is located beside the Koala House.


Tonnes and tonnes of photos...

I assume this is  Noah Ark? 





African Animal Area

The African continent has the reputation for being a wild animal kingdom: unusual animal species are one reason, and quantity is the other reason. Taipei Zoo's African Animal Area covers 6 hectares, suitable for large animals and can exhibit up to 45 species.

The exhibit is simulates the East African savanna. During daytime, a pond with nearby shady trees and bushes nearby is a gathering place for the animals, providing shade and drinkable water. In the evening, herbivores can graze on the grasses. Lions and leopards rest under the shade and hide, waiting for their moment to pounce on unsuspecting prey.



The penguins! There are fake one display  outsides and real one inside. So cute when both the penguin chasing each other, I even took a video of them ;)





The pandas souvenirs.


More information about Taipei Zoo


Tickets

Entrance Fees

Adults: NT$ 60
Discount Prices: NT$ 30
Children aged under 18.
School students with student ID.
(Foreign students with International Student Identity Card, ISIC.)
Groups of 30 people or more: 30% discount.
Free admission qualifications:
Preschool children.
Handicapped individuals (with certification).
Residents foreigner with alien permanent resident certificate (Mackay Project).



Travel by MRT:
MRT Wenshan-Neihu Line: Get off at Taipei Zoo Station.
(for MRT route information, visit Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation)
MRT Nangang/Banqiao/Tucheng Line: Get off at Taipei City Hall Station, and then take bus route G1, BR18 or BR21 to Taipei Zoo.
Travel by Bus:
Get off at Taipei Zoo Stop by: 236, 237, 282, 294, 295, 611, 676, 679, 793, 933, S12, BR3, BR6, BR11, BR15, BR18, BR21, G1, 1501, 1503 or 1558. (for bus route information, visit Taipei e-bus System or Taipei Bus Information and Transit System)

More cute pandas souvenirs ~~~ I'm just so in love with them!
Then around 5pm , we rushed to maokong station, just 100m away from Taipei Zoo.

The Maokong Gondola Station


Here a brief explanation of Maokong.
 Widely known as the most scenic spot in Taipei to drink quality, locally grown tea, Maokong is a quaint village located at the top of a mountain providing breathtaking views of Taipei City.

Tea aficionados will enjoy Maokong for its wide variety of teahouses and high quality selection, while others looking for a relaxing break from the busy city can sit back with a cup of tea and nice dinner, all while taking in the beautiful views of Taipei.

The best way to reach Maokong is to take the Maokong Gondola scenic cable car up the mountain from MRT Taipei Zoo Station, NT$50 each way, with each adult allowed up to 2 children for free.

The Maokong Gondola was built in 2007 and retrofitted with Crystal Cabins (glass-bottom cars) in 2010 to provide more viewing angles and opportunities, also lowering the service interval to 3 minutes per car.

While the tea houses and shops on Maokong are open according to their own schedules, gondola service is contingent upon the weather situation for safety reasons, however is generally open from 8:30AM to 10PM. For more information and current status of the gondola, check out the official website.
The crystal cabins

The sunset was around 6 that time. Very early right? And what a nice experience are we actually watched the sunset in the cable car bcox it took around 45 mins from the first station to the peak of mountain.

By the time we reached, its almost dark. So, we choose to explore the nearest spot.

There are alot of cafe there selling local homemade tea ice cream
You can also enjoy delicious cuisine inspired from tea by most of the restaurant here.

Tea ice- cream stick. Very refreshing with mild sweetness.

Its very nice to enjoy the night view of Taipei from here. But gentle reminder, please prepare mosquitoes repellent as I got a lot of taiwan black mosq bites at here. And the itchiness and inflammation stayed for month! 



Thank you for viewing.
Hope you like it
Have a nice day.





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