If there’s one landmark that comes to most people’s minds when they hear about Taiwan, that would be Taipei 101. The name itself is easy to remember: Taipei is the capital of the country, and 101 stands for the number of floors that comprise the building!
Towering at 508 meters, Taipei 101 is the tallest building in Taiwan; it is also the eleventh tallest building in the world! A trip to the city would not be complete without going to this iconic skyscraper, which houses shops, restaurants, offices, and observatories.
10 Exciting Things to Do at Taipei 101
Taipei 101 is owned by Taipei Financial Center Corporation. When it opened on December 31, 2004, it was recognized as the tallest building in the world… until 2009, when it was surpassed by the Burj Khalifa, a skyscraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The building is located in Xinyi District, the central business district of Taipei City. Hence, it is situated near corporate offices, department stores, and major establishments like the Taipei World Trade Center and the Taipei International Convention Center.
What can you do at Taipei 101? Plenty! Here’s a list of exciting things that you can enjoy at this famous landmark:
Go shopping at the Taipei 101 Mall.
Located in the building’s Basement 1 (B1) Level up to the 5th Floor, The Taipei 101 Shopping Mall features fashion boutiques, jewelry and watch stores, and luxury goods. It carries world-renowned brands such as Cartier, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Gucci, Burberry, Massimo Dutti, Zara, and many more!
The mall is open from 11:00 am to 9:30 pm every Sunday to Thursday, and from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm every Friday and Saturday. There are ATMs or cash machines on the ground floor and other strategic places around the mall, for shoppers’ convenience.
Dine in world-class restaurants and cafes.
Taipei 101 houses numerous cafes and restaurants, including Michelin-starred, fine dining restaurants! At the B1 Level, for example, there are several Taiwanese restaurants that serve classic dishes like beef noodles, oyster omelets, and turkey rice. Chinese food, Western food, and other cuisines are also available.
Going up, there are more dining options, including the famous Da Antonio on the 5th Floor and a Starbucks cafe on the 35th Floor. Near the observatories on the 88th and 89th Floors, there are restaurants and cafes as well, such as KafeD, Simple Kaffa Sola, and Milksha, a bubble tea store.
Check out the companies headquartered in the building.
Notably, Taipei 101 is home to some of the biggest names in business, banking, and trade. The Taiwan Stock Exchange, for instance, occupies the 9th to 12th Floors.
Among the other famous companies based in the building are: L’Oreal (22nd and 23rd Floors); DBS Bank (28th Floor); German Institute Taipei (33rd Floor); Bank of America (43rd and 48th Floors); McKinsey & Company (47th Floor); Bayer (53rd and 54th Floors); Boston Consulting Group (61st Floor); KPMG (68th Floor); Google (73rd Floor); Alliance Bernstein (81st Floor); and Morgan Stanley (83rd Floor).
Ride one of the world’s fastest elevators.
Manufactured by Japanese firm Toshiba, the high-speed elevators in Taipei 101 are among the fastest in world. At the time of completion, these elevators held the record for being the world’s fastest, carrying passengers from the 5th to the 89th Floor in just 37 seconds! That’s a speed of around 60.6 kilometers per hour!
Catch breathtaking views at the Observatory.
Taipei 101 has an Indoor Observatory on the 88th and 89th floors; an outdoor observatory deck on the 91st floor; and finally, “Skyline 460,” an outdoor observatory deck on the 101st floor, which offers spectacular, 360-degree views of the city!
The Indoor Observatory is open from Monday to Friday at 11:00 am to 7:00 pm, and every weekend and national holiday from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. There’s a drinks bar, souvenir shops, and photo services. To fully enjoy the viewing experiencing, visitors can also use the observatory’s high-power binoculars and listen to the pre-recorded audio tour guides, which are available in seven languages!
With regard to the cost, visitors can purchase Standards Tickets (TWD 600) to gain access to the 88th to 91st Floors. To reach the 101st Floor, tickets cost TWD 980 each, though there’s a “fast track” option (TWD 1,200) that allows guests to skip the lines. As for the “Skyline 460” experience, this costs TWD 3,000 each, including an outdoor climb with a harness on the 101st Floor!
See the world’s heaviest wind damper.
To help mitigate the effects of strong winds, earthquakes, and other natural causes, the Taipei 101 building uses a wind damper, a pendulum-like structure situated between the 87th and 92nd Floors. Weighing 660 tonnes, this steel sphere is the heaviest in the world, swinging in the opposite direction of the building’s sway. This way, it is able to reduce the tower’s movement by up to 40 percent!
Attend art exhibits and other special events.
Occasionally, Taipei 101 hosts art exhibits, concerts, and other special events. In fact, it is not uncommon to see celebrities and famous people going in and out of the building during these events!
Join the “Taipei 101 Run Up.”
Every year, the building organizes the “Taipei 101 Run Up.” Basically, this is a running event where participants go from the 1st Floor to the 91st Floor… by taking the stairs! The winner of the event gets TWD 200,000. Wow!
Buy some gifts and souvenirs.
Aside from the retail shops in the Taipei 101 Mall, there’s a Souvenir Area on the ground floor, as well as the Taipei 101 Souvenir Shop on the 89th Floor. Here, you can buy special souvenirs to remind you of your unforgettable experience!
Watch the fireworks and light displays.
The Taipei 101 New Year’s Eve Show is a much-awaited event every December 31st. People from all over the city can get a view of the magnificent fireworks display, with crowds gathering at the Taipei City Hall, at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Public Square, and other locations. At midnight, fireworks shoot from each side of the tower, greeting the start of a new year with a bang!
Of course, even when it’s not New Year’s Eve, you can catch the Taipei 101 Light Show from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Inspired by the seven colors of the rainbow, the building features one color for each day: Red (Monday), Orange (Tuesday), Yellow (Wednesday), Green (Thursday), Blue (Friday), Indigo (Saturday), and Violet (Sunday).
Video: Fireworks at Taipei 101
On New Year’s Eve, the Taipei 101 building lights up with a spectacular fireworks display. Here is a video featuring the fireworks and other festivities:
Contact Information: Taipei 101
For more information about the Taipei 101 and its establishments, you can get in touch through the following contact details:
Address: No. 7, Section 5, Xinyi Rd, Xinyi District, Taipei City, Taiwan 110
Telephone: +886 2 8101 8800
Email: pr@tfc101.com.tw
Website: https://www.taipei-101.com.tw/en/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Taipei101.official
Google Map:
How to Get There
Getting to Taipei 101 is easy; just take the Taipei MRT and get off at the Taipei 101/World Trade Center Station. The tower is right above Exit 4 when you reach the station.
Truly, Taipei 101 will remain as one of the country’s most famous landmarks for a long time. After all, building one of the world’s tallest skyscrapers is no easy feat! Be sure to visit this iconic tower when you go to Taiwan!
Of course, when you visit the country, don’t forget to take home some amazing souvenirs. Here’s a list of the best Taiwanese souvenirs that you can bring home to the Philippines!