Maokong and Pinglin: Taiwanese Tea Culture Tour

Escape the city and explore rural Taipei on a day tour to Pinglin, Shiding, and Shenkeng. Discover tea culture, taste aromatic Taiwanese tea, indulge in stinky tofu, and hike Elephant Mountain for a breathtaking view of Taipei.

Duration: 9 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Maokong Mountain - After a 30-minute drive, embark on a journey into the Taiwanese tea culture from Maokong.
    Situated in the southern part of Taipei City, Maokong is a favored spot for tea enthusiasts, hikers, and those in search of breathtaking city views. Once a significant tea-producing region, Maokong is now celebrated for its traditional…
What's Included
  • Professional licensed tour guide
  • Maokong Gondola ride experience
  • Taiwanese local tea tasting
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off (if private option selected)
  • Local general liabilities insurance
  • Entrance ticket (Pinglin Tea Museum of New Taipei City)
What's Not Included
  • Meals
  • Bottled water
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

This tour to Maokong and Pinglin presents a unique opportunity to explore the intriguing world of Taiwanese tea culture from seed to cup.
Your tour begins with a scenic Maokong Gondola ride, offering stunning views of Southern Taipei from high above. Upon descending, you’ll leisurely stroll along either the Maokong Tea Fragrance Loop Trail or Maokong…

Location
Zhongxiao Park
Lane 134, Section 2, Zhongxiao East Road
Group Tour: Exit 2, MRT Zhongxiao Xinsheng Station (BL14 /O07). Please take the escalator to the ground level, your tour guide will be waiting for you near the exit with the tour operator's logo flag (EDISON TOURS). Private Tour: Complimentary Downtown Taipei City Hotel Pick-up
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(37 Ratings)
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Anonymous
Mar 21, 2026
Mr. Hayashi, our guide, was very kind and helpful. Japan... - Mr. Hayashi, our guide, was very kind and helpful. When I asked them in advance if they could speak Japanese via chat, they immediately replied with a firm promise, and I was able to participate in the tour with peace of mind. Mr. Chen, the driver, was also a good driver, smiling and nice.
Review provided by Viator
Geo3
Feb 5, 2026
Great introduction to tea, and to the countryside around Taipei - As far as I can tell, this appears to the tour (with Edison Tours) that I took. Although the tour at the time was called 'Pinglin Tea Culture/Elephant Mountain Day tour', the itinerary appears to be the same. It was a great small-group tour, with an excellent guide (can't remember the name of the guide, sorry). We started with a drive to the ThousandIsland Lake (Tei-Tsui reservoir), a very beautiful area with many tea plantations on the hillsides. We stopped at a tea plantation for a bit of an explanation about tea and how it is grown. We also had the opportunity to buy tea products (but no pressure to do so). After this we drove to the Pinglin Tea Museum, which was interesting, and which also had a very nice garden setting. We then visited the Pinglin Old Street, a street that preserves traditional Taiwanese architecture. While here, we went to a shop where we had a demonstration of how tea is traditionally prepared, and got to taste different varieties of local tea. We also had an hour to explore Pinglin Old Street. There we could get lunch if we wished (at our own cost). The day ended with a drive to the Maokong area, where we walked on the Zhangsha trail downhill for about 40 minutes, ending at a temple with a beautiful view over part of Taipei from its terrace, after which we took the Maokong gondola down to the valley, and then were taken back to our starting point. Overall it was a great introduction to some of the beautiful scenery around Taipei, and also the the tea culture in Taiwan.,
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lonniew787
Dec 25, 2025
Kuan and Qiu are the Dynamic Duo - We had an amazing time. Kuan and Qiu are the dynamic duo. They made the tour fun. Their energy and vibe was just heart felt and warm. We had a great time just talking and enjoying each other’s company. If anyone is interested in doing this tour, I highly recommend requesting Kuan and Qiu if you want to have a memorable tour experience
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ian_d
Nov 19, 2025
Tony was a great guide.... - Tony was a great guide. He is very knowledgeable about teas and about Taiwan. If you like tea, this tour is for you.
Review provided by Viator
Chiyanl9
Nov 7, 2025
Cat Air Attack - You can travel by Taiwan Express, if you use a Taiwan travel card, the cost is 300 Taiwanese yen, if the time permission is unlimited to ride back, unlimited number of times. The air on the mountain is fresh and the scenery is beautiful. In the cabin you can see the 101 building and the large green fireplace. The dawn and evening are the best time to travel, but wearing more clothes to keep cool. Optionally, you can ride a car on the bottom of the glass for more than 50 cents.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mahmoudmr7767mn
Sep 17, 2025
Pingling Tea Tour Review - The tour was amazing! Our tour guide Kevin Su was a wonderful and super friendly guide who knew everything about the area, and explained everything thoroughly. Whenever we needed pictures of us taken, he would take them without hesitation. A lot of times, he would even offer to take pictures of us without us even asking. In addition, the views of the thousand island lake along with the tea plants were simply wonderful!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Julie_f
Sep 5, 2025
From the teatree to the cup - Very nice visit of less touristy areas around Taipei! The tea testing was especially interesting; I felt I got a taste of tawainese culture. Chiara and our flutist Driver were very nice and accomodating. Chiara knows a lot about Taiwan, it was so interesting!
Review provided by Viator
296meix
Aug 1, 2025
Even saw birds like Galapagos! Enjoyed Taiwanese tea ceremony! - I had great experience in this tour! The tour guide Tawei Yu was very helpful and knowledgeable. He assisted me in my challenging situations during travel. Very heartwarming! The tea tasting experience was fantastic. We also saw birds like Galapagos, which was beyond my expectations. Highly recommend this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Eric_t
Jul 29, 2025
Gordon took my child and... - Gordon took my child and I on a private "Pinglin Tea Culture and Maokong" day tour. It was a great experience and we were well taken care of the whole day, going from site to site, getting grand mountain and tea farm views and walks, and learning many aspects of tea production and culture. The brand new tour vehicle was comfortable and the expert driver was fantastic at smoothly and safely navigating all the mountain roads. For a short stay in Taipei this is a fantastic way to get to experience the countryside and get out of the busy city for a day!
Review provided by Viator
Geeeng_l
Oct 11, 2025
Good day trip to learn... - Good day trip to learn more about tea culture in Taiwan and to have better knowledge on the different types of Chinese teas.
Review provided by Viator
From $80
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).