Maokong Gondola & Shiding Noodle DIY: Private Taipei Tea Tour

Stretch and swing noodles by hand, then ride a mountain gondola through Taipei's tea country.

A private full-day class and tour in Taipei combines hands-on noodle-making in Shiding with tea education in Maokong, including hotel pickup, a one-way gondola descent, and a walk through a historic mountain village. You make and package your own noodles, stroll Shiding Old Street past stone houses and local food stalls, learn about Tieguanyin and Baozhong tea at the Taipei Tea Promotion Center, walk the Zhangshu Trail for seasonal flowers and tea mountain views, then ride the Maokong Gondola down to Taipei Zoo Station before transfer to your hotel, Taipei 101, or Raohe Street Night Market. The tour runs nine hours and requires advance booking. Shiding Handmade Noodle DIY is closed Tuesdays, and the gondola may close for weather or maintenance.

Step-by-step itinerary

Maokong Gondola and Shiding Noodle DIY

• Hotel pickup and travel to Shiding
• Learn traditional Taiwanese noodle-making
• Stroll through Shiding Old Street
• Lunch on own in Shiding
• Visit Taipei Tea Promotion Center in Maokong
• Walk along Zhangshu Trail
• Enjoy Maokong tea house experience
• Ride Maokong Gondola down to Taipei Zoo Station
• Transfer to hotel or night market

The experience

What makes this tour different is that you don't just see tea country. You make something to take home. The day starts in Shiding, where you learn traditional Taiwanese noodle-making through hands-on work: stretching the dough, swinging it to thin it out, timing photos during the drying process, and packaging your finished noodles. A guide leads the instruction in English or Chinese. After the DIY, you walk through Shiding Old Street, a quiet mountain village with stone houses built on stilts, a riverside atmosphere, tofu dessert shops, and small food stalls where you can eat lunch at your own pace.

The afternoon shifts to Maokong, Taipei's main tea-growing area. Your private vehicle takes you directly to the Taipei Tea Promotion Center, where you learn about the two signature teas of the region (Tieguanyin and Baozhong), and how they're produced in the Muzha and Maokong hills. Then comes the Zhangshu Trail, a gentle walk through tea plantations where seasonal flowers (lupine, cosmos, sunflowers, depending on the time of year) bloom alongside mountain views. You'll have free time at a mountain tea house or café before the final descent: a one-way ride on the Maokong Gondola down to Taipei Zoo Station, where your driver meets you for the transfer to your hotel, Taipei 101, or Raohe Street Night Market.

The tour is nine hours total and includes hotel pickup and drop-off within Taipei City, air-conditioned private vehicle transport, the gondola ride, and a licensed guide who speaks English and Chinese. You'll need to bring cash for lunch and any tea house purchases, comfortable walking shoes, and a light jacket. An umbrella is wise because mountain weather shifts quickly. A moderate amount of walking is involved, mostly on Shiding Old Street and the Zhangshu Trail. Shiding Handmade Noodle DIY requires advance reservation and is closed Tuesdays. If it's unavailable, the itinerary shifts to Thousand Island Lake and Bagua Tea Plantation instead. The gondola may close for weather, maintenance, or official schedule changes.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off within Taipei City.
• Shiding Handmade Noodle DIY with guided instruction and noodles to take home.
• air-conditioned private vehicle transport.
• Maokong Gondola one-way ride.
• Taipei Tea Promotion Center entry and tea education.
• walk along Zhangshu Trail.
• licensed English and Chinese-speaking driver-guide.
• travel insurance provided.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SundayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (9 and older) · Child (3 to 8 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Justaiwantour

Is this one for you?Your guide speaks English and Chinese, so you'll follow the instruction and commentary comfortably in whichever language you prefer. The private vehicle and guide mean the pace is yours alone: no group schedule to keep, no waiting for others to finish the noodle-making or the tea house stop.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Chinese and Chinese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 8 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I do the noodle-making part if I've never made pasta or noodles before?

Shiding Handmade Noodle DIY is designed for first-timers. A guide leads you through simple hands-on steps (stretching, swinging, and packaging), so no prior experience is needed. The activity is the point, not the skill.

What happens if Shiding Handmade Noodle DIY is closed when I want to book?

Shiding is closed Tuesdays and occasionally fully booked. If it's unavailable, the tour switches to Thousand Island Lake and Bagua Tea Plantation, keeping the same structure: a hands-on experience in the morning, Maokong in the afternoon, and the gondola ride home.

Is the Zhangshu Trail walk difficult, or can anyone do it?

Zhangshu Trail is a gentle walk through tea plantations with mountain views. A moderate amount of walking is involved across the whole day, but the trail itself is designed as a slower, peaceful side of Taipei. Comfortable shoes matter more than fitness.

What if the Maokong Gondola is closed on my tour date?

The gondola may close for weather, maintenance, or official schedule changes. If it closes, the operator will adjust the itinerary to ensure your safety and enjoyment, though the specific alternative is not detailed in advance. Confirm the status when you book.

Can I choose where I get dropped off at the end of the day?

Yes. You can end at your Taipei hotel, Taipei 101, or Raohe Street Night Market. Let the operator know your preference when you book, and your driver will take you there after the gondola ride.

Do I need to bring anything special, or is there anything I shouldn't bring?

Bring cash for lunch and tea house purchases, comfortable walking shoes, a light jacket, and an umbrella or raincoat: mountain weather is unpredictable. Don't bring oversized luggage. One standard bag per traveler is the limit. Travel insurance is required by local regulation and will be provided by the operator, but you'll need to give your passport details at booking.