Latest update: There is still no confirmation when the Maokong Gondola will reopen. It should be some time in 2010, but exactly when is anyone's guess.

Taipei conducts small-scale test of Maokong Gondola - Taipei Times, 3 February 2010 No date set for reopening Maokong Gondola: mayor - Taipei Times, 17 December 2009

Update: On 1 October 2008 operations of the Maokong Gondola were suspended. This was because of erosion under a pillar caused by rain from Typhoon Jangmi. The problems are quite serious from an engineering point of view. At least one pillar needs to be relocated. One of the major criticisms is that the project was never subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). On 23 January 2009 Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin announced that pillar T-16 would be relocated and hoped that the gondola could resume operations by the end of the year. Below are links to news articles detailing the problems.

• Maokong Gondola closed for evaluation of erosion
• Halted gondola confirms worries
• Muzha was never stable enough for gondola: DPP
• Hau visits site of gondola repairs
• DPP councilors challenge Taipei City over gondola
• Gondola’s ability to withstand earthquake weakened 
• Taipei urged to move gondola pillar 
• Search on for alternative pillar site: Hau
• DPP councilor finds other 'unstable' gondola pillars
• Hau slams critics of gondola system
• Probe on gondola system won’t include Ma
• Ma needs to apologize for gondola catastrophe
• Maokong Gondola should have undergone EIA: EPA
• Tower 16 must move: experts
• Gondola creates headaches for Taipei City officials
• Don’t bungle the gondola again
• City councilors criticize Maokong gondola probe
• Gondola pillar to be relocated, officials probed
• City councilors take Ma to task over Maokong Gondola

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The Maokong Gondola (貓空纜車; Māokōng lǎnchē) is a four kilometre long cable car system in the mountains south of Taipei. It runs between the Taipei Zoo and Maokong with intermediate stops at the Taipei Zoo (inside station) and Zhinan Temple (指南宮; Zhǐnán Gōng).

You can take a short ride on the gondola to visit the Taipei Zoo or you can go further to Zhinan Temple and Maokong. There are hiking trails further up into the mountains from both these places. Maokong is famous as a tea growing area and has many tea houses where you can drink tea and enjoy the views of Taipei.

The Taipei Zoo Gondola Station is located about 300 metres from the Taipei Zoo MRT Station. Tickets cost NT$30, 40 or 50 depending on the number of stations. The system is operated by the Taipei MRT and you can use the Easy Card (悠遊卡) to pay the fare or purchase tickets in the stations. The gondola has proved very popular so expect long queues on the weekends.

The Gondola is closed for maintainence every Monday. This was because of numerous problems with the operations since the official opening (Taipei Times, 26 July 2007). The hours of operation are 9:00 am to 10:00 pm from Tuesday to Friday and 8:30 am to 10:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday.

• photos of the Maokong Gondola at flickr
• A cup of tea, a taste of freedom - Taipei Times article
• Maokong Gondola - official website
• Maokong Gondola - wikipedia