The opening of the Maokong gondola in the Taipei district of Mucha has brought a new life and excitement to the Maokong area. What many people may not realize, however, is that Maokong in early times was a hunting grounds for the Atayal indigenous tribe. When ethnic Han Chinese immigrated to Taiwan from Fujian Province to develop the land and build a life here, they brought with them the most genuine Iron Guanyin Tea.

A group of six students from Taipei Municipal Zhongshan Girls High School, led by their instructor Chiu Yung-chun, have traveled up the mountain to Maokong and carried out field studies there for more than a year. The six girls are a part of the schools class for gifted students in the humanities and social sciences. Their detailed survey of the area, along with hearing oral histories of the areas past, have helped them piece together what life in Maokong was like centuries ago. On Tuesday, Chiu and her students took the book that they prepared up to Maokong where they presented copies to people who have provided assistance to them over the months. The group rode in a car up to Maokong, deciding not to take the recently opened gondola.

Chiu Yung-chun said that Maokong in fact has quite a sweeping history. Originally it was a hunting grounds for members of the Atayal indigenous tribe, Chiu said. When the Han Chinese began populating and developing the area, they brought with them a variety of industries. Development of the Maokong area dates back to the Qing Dynasty. The area was known for many different things over the years, including camphor, leeks, rice, Paochung tea, and especially Anhsi tea. After a port was opened in northern Taiwan and trading establishments were created, the area became best known for its tea leaves and its camphor. After the Sino-Japanese War in 1895, Taiwan was occupied by Japan. During the period of Japanese occupation of the island, the Japanese changed the key industries in Maokong in order to meet the needs of Japan. For example, a tea production and sales organization was set up. In addition, the area became a center for indigo dye and also camphor. The Japanese also began mining the area for coal. After the outbreak of World War II, the Japanese called for the end to planting tea in the area and instead ordered the growing of rice. This had an enormous impact on the industrial make-up of Maokong. Chang Na-miao, an individual in the private sector, decided on his own to import Iron Guanyin tea, which over the years was what Maokong became associated with.

Chiu Yung-chun said that after Retrocession, the tea industry once again gradually took hold on Maokong. In 1987, when former President Lee Teng-hui was still in his position as the mayor of Taipei, he promoted the establishment of tourist tea plantations in Mucha. This provided the push needed to help pave the way for the development of a tourism industry in the area. Over the years, a number of tea houses and restaurants featuring free range chicken meals sprouted in Maokong, attracting a large number of visitors.

The institution of a two day weekend policy enabled people to have the time to travel to places further away from Taipei over the weekend. As a result, the number of visitors to Maokong fell sharply. Local community development associations and proprietors of tea houses worked together in trying to find a new position for Maokong in order to attract people back to the area. The opening of the Maokong cable car this year marked a new page in the history of the area.