TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Wondering where to spend the Lunar New Year holiday? The Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) of Taipei invites the public to visit the Zhinan Scenic Area (指南風景區) and get close to nature by taking a ride on the Maokong Gondola.

The Zhinan Scenic Area, located in proximity to the Zhinan Temple Station of the gondola lift system in Taipei, is easily accessible by public transportation. Centered around the local religious center, the Zhinan Temple (指南宮), the tourist attraction is recommended for individuals who’d like to have a taste of the Lunar New Year festivities while seeking recreational activity.

Over the past years, the city government has invested much effort in overhauling the facilities surrounding the temple and injecting life into the area, including the cultivation of azaleas and Formosan gum trees, among other landscaping projects, according to GEO.

The mountainous area also boasts a hiking trail designed with the theme of Chinese Zodiac. Visitors trekking up the trail will be met with a pair of piggy stone sculptures, as befits the Year of the Pig.

Those climbing higher into the mountains will be treated with a breathtaking view overlooking the Taipei Basin, a getaway from the hustle and bustle of the concrete jungle.

To reach the spot, take the Maokong Gondola or the public bus No. 530, BR5 and disembark at Zhinan Temple Station.

(Photo/GEO)