CoffeeWalk: Taipei

April 20, 2024 · Taipei, Taiwan

I enjoy how this city walks a line between Japanese and Chinese cultures, creating its own mellow vibe. People leave you alone in the markets without the hard sell and let you just have a look around. It is not as frenetic as China, not as structured as Japan. A relaxed middle ground I was not expecting. Though it needs a good power washing, the city is tidy. I love how green and lush the island is, with mountains visible in the background of the city.

Today, those hills are calling. They are filled with tea plantations, tea houses, a temple complex, and hiking trails. So today’s CoffeeWalk is temporarily doing double duty as a TeaWalk. But first, of course, coffee! Because it's gonna take forever to get there.... We wander through town, first to get coffee, then to catch the subway to the end of the line, followed by a 30-minute gondola ride into the hills. Let’s walk!

A bicycle parked beneath a long covered sidewalk lined with shops in Taipei — These covered sidewalks where the ground-floor shops are recessed provide welcome coverage from the sun or the rain. And there's plenty of both here.

A Michelin-rated food stall with a large menu display in Taipei — Michelin-rated food stalls seem to be everywhere.

Customers lined up outside a popular Taipei food stall — Just look for the line.

A narrow covered market aisle lined with produce stands — I had to detour when I saw this market open on my way to coffee. In one door, out the other. Still heading in the correct general direction.

A takeaway coffee cup held up in a narrow Taipei alley — Finally found my coffee. Coffee culture in Asia is strange to me. Most coffee shops (and tea houses) don't open until 11 or noon. Boggling. Squeeze Coffee is one of the few to open earlier. It opens at about 9:10. Haha. Never 9 sharp. But I will wait… It was really good coffee.

A small neighborhood shrine tucked between buildings in Taipei — Small shrine next to the coffee shop. You can find these shrines and temples, big and small, lodged between buildings all over Taipei.

An old brick neighborhood building beside modern high-rises in Taipei — Time to make my way out of the neighborhood and head to the subway.

A colorful three-wheeled scooter parked on a Taipei sidewalk — Cool ride. Parked on the sidewalk, as you do.

A Taipei mail carrier riding a green motor scooter — This is the mailman. Motor scooters are practical and widely used here. It would be nice to see more electric scooters, but sadly no.

Shelves of prepared food in a Taipei convenience store — I made a brief stop for some water. Convenience stores here (as in Japan) offer some pretty good quick food. We aren't asking enough of 7-Eleven in the US.

A large group of scooter commuters waiting at a Taipei intersection — Morning commuters.

Scooter riders moving through a busy Taipei intersection — There they go. Imagine if they were all driving cars…

A route map for the Maokong Gondola — I rode the subway to the end of the line where you can then catch a gondola up into the hills. The zoo is also located here, if you want to make a full day of it.

A green Maokong Gondola cabin arriving at the station

Gondola cabins crossing forested hills with Taipei 101 in the distance — Taipei 101 (once the tallest building in the world) over the hills in the distance.

A gondola cabin climbing above green hills toward Maokong — Climbing higher.

A directional sign surrounded by gardens near the Zhinan Temple Complex — Time to see some sights. Heading left to the Zhinan Temple Complex.

Steps descending through red decorations at the Zhinan Temple Complex — Zhinan Temple Complex.

Stacy holding a bottle of Pocari Sweat on a hot day in Taipei — It's hot and humid here. Gotta stay hydrated. Pocari Sweat! Like a less sugary Gatorade, I would say.

Taipei 101 visible beyond layered green hills from the temple — Taipei 101, from the temple.

An ornate entrance arch and guardian statue at the Zhinan Temple Complex

A red and black blessing sign at the Zhinan Temple Complex

A lush tea plantation covering a hillside in Maokong

Colorful cat sculptures surrounded by flowers at Maokong Station — Maokong Station, the last stop on the gondola. From here you can wander down the roads and trails to the tea houses and restaurants.

Tea, snacks, and a teapot on a table overlooking the green hills of Maokong — Finally made my way to a tea house for some tea and snacks and a lovely view. A very peaceful break.

A small pavilion and winding road seen from the gondola above Maokong — Lovely views from the gondola. Time to head back down to the subway and back to the concrete jungle.

A round souvenir stamp being pressed into a passport-style stamp book — If you go to Taiwan, don’t forget to bring (or buy) your passport-style souvenir book for stamps like this one at the gondola station.

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