Taipei/Wenshan

Wenshan (文山區) is a southern district of Taipei.

Understand

It was formed by merging two historical districts, Jingmei and Muzha. It is home to Taipei Zoo and there are many tea plantations in the hills that surround the district.

Get in

By metro

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

By bus

City buses provide cheaper but slower access to Wenshan District.

Get around

Maokong Gondola

By cable car

• 1 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)

By bus

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.

See

• 1 Taipei Zoo (台北動物園). Nestled in a tight, lush valley, Taipei zoo has all the leisurely charm of a large park, but you also get the enjoyment of wandering through trees and along lanes with a variety of animals and birds. Unlike many traditional zoos, the animals here are not confined to cages, but allowed to roam freely in open paddocks, and it is a very clean and well maintained facility. However, some of the animal enclosures are small and seem over-crowded. Due to the city government's education policy, the zoo is very much an integral part of Taipei life. So much so in fact, that when an old elephant became ill and died several years ago, several generations turned up, many with tears in their eyes, to say their farewells. The zoo is popular in Taiwan for its two pandas, a gift from China. The zoo is located in the suburb of Muzha, and the entrance is just outside the terminal stop on the Muzha MRT line, 'Taipei Zoo'. Admission is quite affordable, at NT$60 for adults, and if you have a Taipei Metro EasyCard, you can pay the admission fee with that. Adults NT$65.  
• 2 National Chengchi University (國立政治大學). NCCU, often abbreviated to Zhengda (政大), is Taiwan's leading national university focused on humanities and social sciences. It is large with lots of greenery and open spaces. There are hiking trails up the mountains in the back of the campus with teahouses and temples all over the hills. The campus grounds are surrounded by shops, bookstores, eateries, cafes and teahouses popular with students and scholars. 

History and culture

• 3 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. 

Temples

Zhinan Temple

• 4 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. 
• 5 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. 
• 6 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)

Do

Tea tasting

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.

• 2 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. 

Hiking

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:

• 3 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. 
• 4 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). 

Parks and nature

• 5 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)
• 6 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)

Buy

• Zhang Xie Xing Tea Company (張協興茶行), 93 Zhinan Road, Sec 2 (near the entrance to National Chengchi University, next to Giordano.). Famous for its Tieguanyin tea (Iron Goddess of Mercy) and tea candies. 

Night markets

• 1 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. 

Eat

• Dian Wei Chu Fang (滇味廚房), 167 Zhinan Road, Sec 2 (near the entrance to National Chengchi University). Offers delicious Yunnan style food. 
• Tian Xiang Hui Wei (天香回味), 2F, 42 Jingwen Street (near MRT Jingmei Station), ☏ +886 2 8663-7145. Known for its Mongolian hotpot. 

Drink

• 1 Yao Yue Teahouse (邀月茶坊), 6, Lane 40, Zhinan Road, Sec 3, ☏ +886 2 2939-2025. 24 hours. Offers creative tea cuisine with restful views over the surrounding countryside. 
• 2 Yuan Xu Yuan Teahouse (緣續緣茶坊), 16-2, Lane 38, Zhinan Road, Sec 3, ☏ +886 2 2936-7089. Offers spectacular views of Taipei on a clear day. Specialties include Osmanthus Tieguanyin Tea (桂花鐵觀音) and tea cuisine. 
• 3 Xing Hua Lin Teahouse (杏花林茶坊), 30, Lane 45, Laoquan Street, ☏ +886 2 2936-9367. Estimated best time for apricot blossom viewing - February to March. The best time for viewing varies according to the weather conditions. 

Sleep

Most tourists stay in central Taipei, where there is an abundance of accommodation, but there are also some hotels in the area around Jingmei Night Market.

Budget

• 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. 

Connect

• Taipei Public Library offers free access to the Internet. Check their website for a list of branches in Wenshan district.