So Shane and I went south on the Brown line (sometimes called the Muzha line) to the Maokong Aerial Gondola. Maokong is a beautiful town at the end of the line for the Gondola... it's famous for its tea plantations and expensive restaurants. I haven't been all the way to Maokong just yet, but I plan to go soon, so stay tuned (Megan is too chicken to take the gondola!). See where to pick up the gondola here:
View Larger Map
You pick up the gondola at the Taipei Zoo MRT station, which is the last and southernmost stop for the brown line. The actual gondola platform is only about half a klick from the MRT Taipei Zoo station. The cost to get onto the gondola is quite low, about $50NT ($1.70USD). You see a lot of tourists there.
The gondola platforms. Each car seats a maximum of 8 passengers. If you have less than 8, they will pair you with other folks for a minimum of 6 passengers.
 |
The gondolas go up quite high. |
 |
The views can be pretty spectacular. |
 |
Just in case you want to get to the temple old-school... or you're too chicken for the gondola! (just kidding... this is some kind of water system... although there is, of course, an old path to get to the temple... 1200 or 12,000 steps or something.) |
When you disembark, its about another half klick to the temple itself.
 |
| There are some cool/ancient looking walking paths. |
 |
| The temple on approach. |
There was this giant gong going off as we came to the temple. Shane said it's the monks' homework.
 |
| I just thought this little scene along the path was cool. |
I don't really know the story behind Zhinan Temple. I read that the temple is dedicated to Lu, one of the eight classical Chinese immortals. Supposedly, if couples visit this temple before being married, he will likely cause them to break up... something to do with Lu's own bad luck in romance.
 |
| Three golden dragons holding a giant incense pot. |
 |
| The smoke from the incense helps your message reach the gods. More expensive incense makes sure you can get your message to higher-class gods. I'm told people usually ask for money. What do people usually ask for? Money. Does it work? I don't know. Well if it did, everybody would be rich. |
These guys were interesting. Usually, there're some lion/dogs at the entrance of a temple. This side-temple at Zhinan had two dragons. I asked Shane why there are fish at the base of each dragon. As the story goes (don't quote me for accuracy... this is as a I understood it from Shane), these guys were critical for the unification of China. The first empire was created by the Tang dynasty. But a lot of battles had to be fought before that could happen. These dragons appeared out of the river and gave some special knowledge (wisdom, technology, strategy... I don't know) to the emperor-to-be.
 |
| 30% horse 30% eagle 30% dragon. |
 |
| 30% lion 30% tortoise 30% dragon. |
100% bad ass.
 |
| The temples are very ornate. Some modern light bulbs and wires take away from the whole experience, though. |
 |
| Tools for asking questions from the gods. As I understand it, if you ask a question, you throw two of the moons. same side up... yes. Opposites sides up... no. No option for "try again later", apparently. |
A bit of Taiwanese insight as we leave the temple:
Me: I'm tired.
Shane: Probably it's the different energy at the temple.
I wonder if people cared that I took so many pictures.
You should have asked for permission first.
Nobody said anything.
Not from the people... from the gods. But I think they'll understand because you're a foreigner.
Very cool!
ReplyDelete