Taipei 101: Beyond the Skyline – Unpacking Taiwan’s Iconic Tower

Alright, fellow adventurers! Welcome back to my Taiwan round-island journey. Today, we’re diving deep into one of Taipei’s most recognizable landmarks: Taipei 101. Back in its planning stages, it was originally called the Taipei Financial Center, and get this, it was the second tallest building in the world back in 2010! Located right in Taipei’s Xinyi District, this architectural marvel was designed by C.Y. Lee & Partners and built by the KTRT team, holding several world records according to the China World Record Association.

Standing at a whopping 508 meters (that’s about 1,667 feet) with 101 floors above ground and 5 underground, Taipei 101 is more than just a number. The “101” in its name isn’t just about the floors; it’s an acronym for Technology, Art, Innovation, People, Environment, and Identity. How cool is that? This colossal project was a joint effort, funded by twelve Taiwanese banks and various industries, and cost a staggering NT$58 billion to build. Talk about a major investment!

So, what’s inside this giant? Floors B2-B4 are for parking (naturally), while B1 through 4F house a fantastic five-story shopping mall. Level 5 is where you’ll find various banks and financial services. Then, from the 6th to the 84th floor, it’s all about office spaces. If you’re fancy, the 85th floor is a business club, and floors 86 to 88 boast some seriously high-end observation restaurants. The 89th floor is your indoor observation deck, and the 91st floor offers an outdoor viewing experience. This observation deck spans about 761 ping (a traditional Taiwanese unit of area), symbolizing a “window to the future.”

Even the name “Taipei 101” carries lucky vibes! “101” is super catchy and easy to remember, and in the I Ching, 0 and 1 are considered auspicious numbers.

The entire design is infused with traditional Chinese symbolism. For instance, the lucky number eight (which sounds like ‘prosperity’ in Mandarin) is a core design unit, symbolizing the gathering of wealth. From the 27th to the 90th floor, the 64 stories are divided into eight structural units, with each unit comprising eight floors. These units seamlessly stack, interlock, and connect, creating a harmonious and unified whole. It’s truly the world’s first multi-segmented skyscraper.

Each eight-story segment of this multi-segmented skyscraper actually represents a section of bamboo. With eight segments in total, it totally looks like a giant bamboo stalk, symbolizing continuous growth, unwavering resilience, and blossoming prosperity – pretty neat, right? And those walls that subtly tilt inward by seven degrees in each “bamboo” segment? They create a dynamic aesthetic, adding a rhythmic beauty that makes this massive structure feel surprisingly light and modern. It really set a new standard for skyscraper aesthetics globally.

Taipei 101 also incorporates the traditional Chinese ‘dou gui’ (a kind of storage cabinet or chest) element. If you look closely, each “bamboo stalk” segment actually resembles these cabinets. These ‘dou gui’ symbolize the accumulation of wealth and soaring career success, imbuing this “Taipei International Financial Center” with even more auspicious and blessing-filled significance.

Even the main entrance of Taipei 101, located on Xinyi Road, adheres to classic Feng Shui principles: a Green Dragon on the left (the Four Beasts Mountain), a White Tiger on the right (the World Trade Center), and a protective backing (Qixing Mountain, Shamao Mountain, and Datun Mountain). Talk about good vibes!

And check out the rain shelters above the main entrance on Xinyi Road and the side entrance on Songzhi Road. They’re adorned with ten ancient fish, ten coins, and ten ‘Ruyi’ scepters – all symbolizing ‘perfection’ or ‘completeness.’ Details, people, details!

Speaking of ‘Ruyi’ scepters (those cool S-shaped ornamental objects often seen in Chinese imperial palaces), they’re literally everywhere in Taipei 101! From the “giant Ruyi” light covers on the building’s exterior to…

…the Ruyi placed right in the center of each of the four sides, symbolizing “all wishes come true.”

…even the medium-sized Ruyi on the restaurant door pillars!

Right as you step through the main entrance on Xinyi Road, you’re greeted by winding escalators. Their layout is based on the “Nine Palaces” formation from ancient Chinese metaphysics. Plus, the ‘dragon-in, tiger-out’ design for the escalators (left entry, right exit) is said to draw in crowds and wealth. Smart move, Taipei 101!

Even the pillars in the 4th-floor atrium are special. They support a soaring 40-meter (130-foot) high ceiling structure that looks like a dragon’s spine! And naturally, the tops of the pillars feature more Ruyi patterns. It’s all about that auspicious detail!

To get to the good stuff, you first take an elevator up to the 4th floor, then an escalator to the 5th, and *then* you hop on the high-speed elevator to the 88th floor. It’s a journey!

The 4th-floor Metropolitan Plaza is pretty impressive – it’s 40 meters high and spans over 500 ping (about 17,600 sq ft). With its carefully designed lighting and views, it offers an artistic and entertaining space. Picture this: open-air cafes and delicate pastries surrounding you, giving off a chill Parisian chic vibe. It’s a refreshing escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Plus, there are a bunch of European, Thai, and Chinese restaurants, so you can totally chow down on some seriously good grub after a shopping spree.

On the 5th floor, the line for the high-speed elevators to the observation deck was pretty long. Our tour guide, Mr. Lee, went to sort out our group tickets while we held down the fort in line.

Right near the 5th-floor entrance, there’s a Taipei 101 souvenir shop, mostly packed with IT gadgets. Go figure!

And get this: as you snake through the queuing barriers for the elevator, there are cameras set up. You strike a pose, and before you even step into the elevator, your photo, composited with the Taipei 101, pops up on a TV screen on the wall! You gotta hand it to them for this genius setup! I’m not really into composites, so I passed, but it’s a slick operation.

Now for the ride of a lifetime! Toshiba manufactured two of the world’s fastest elevators for Taipei 101, capable of zipping from the 5th floor to the 89th-floor observation deck in a mind-blowing 39 seconds! Riding it, you feel serious G-forces pushing you back, just like a plane taking off! It’s an unforgettable mix of speed and thrill, and trust me, you’ll be swallowing hard to pop your ears!

Each elevator holds about 10 people, and despite the insane speed, it’s super smooth. A slick blue graphic display shows your current floor, height, speed, and travel time. A little red square zips up and down a mini 101 graphic, showing exactly where you are in the building.

Oh, and the elevator ceiling? It’s designed to look like a starry night sky. A nice touch for your rapid ascent!

And just like that, 35 seconds later, you’re on the 89th floor!

The 89th floor is more than just a view. It’s got photo services (with souvenir certificates, obvs), DVD rentals, an audio guide counter, an ice cream shop (score!), another souvenir shop, and a viewing area for the famous tuned mass damper. Oh, and get this: the world’s highest mailbox! You can totally send postcards to your pals and family from here, both local and international. How cool is that for a souvenir?

Visitors walk through these awesome “Star Roaming” and “Cloud Walking” multimedia corridors before getting up close and personal with the wind damper.

To combat those strong high-altitude winds and typhoons that make buildings sway, Taipei 101 houses a “tuned mass damper.” Tucked between the 88th and 92nd floors, it’s a massive steel sphere weighing 660 metric tons (that’s about 1.45 million pounds!). It swings to reduce the building’s movement. According to the Taipei 101 info signs, it’s the only giant damper in the world that’s open for public viewing, and it’s currently the largest one globally. Pretty wild!

They even have a cute cartoon version of the damper for photo ops. Because, why not?

Our guide handed us each an audio guide, so we were free to explore. I’ll be honest, I’m still getting my bearings in Taipei, so a lot of it was just… cityscape. I couldn’t really pinpoint everything.

But the wide-open views meant the city skyline stretched out clear and far. The streets and buildings below looked like little flat blocks, and with such an expansive view, my mood just soared!

From up here, you can spot the yellow-roofed Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. And that “gong”-shaped building? That’s the Taipei City Government office building.

Looking out from the north window of the observation deck, you can see the Keelung River and the Macarthur No. 2 Bridge. Apparently, General Douglas MacArthur’s actions in the Korean War are credited with ‘saving Taiwan,’ and this bridge was named in his honor. History lesson from the sky!

Our guide also pointed out this area as a wealthy residential district, claiming that famous Taiwanese sisters, Big S and Little S, supposedly live in a building not far from the stadium. Pretty neat!

My overall impression? Taipei doesn’t have a ton of super tall buildings, and the streets are a bit… quirky. Aside from the surrounding mountains, there isn’t a lot of obvious green space, but they definitely make the most of rooftop real estate. It’s clear this city wasn’t built through massive demolition and reconstruction, which I guess ties into Taiwan’s high rate of private home ownership.

Here’s a cool photo of a Taiwan map made from smiling faces, with the caption “Love a Smiling Taiwan.” Adorable!

Beyond the views, the 89th floor doubles as a grand exhibition hall for Taiwanese arts and crafts. The star of the show? Red coral, also known as gem-quality coral. It’s the birthstone for March and the traditional gift for a 35th wedding anniversary. Historically, red coral adorned imperial palaces for centuries – think coral trees, miniature landscapes, even crowns for empresses and hats for high-ranking officials.

Check out the world’s largest deep-sea red coral tree!

There were so many uniquely shaped coral carvings and artisanal pieces.

Red coral boasts a delightful color and a lustrous texture. As an organic gemstone, it matures in the deep sea, about 100 to 2000 meters below the surface. It’s considered one of the “Big Three” organic gemstones, alongside pearls and amber, and is even listed as one of the Seven Treasures in Eastern Buddhist scriptures. Since ancient times, it’s been seen as a symbol of wealth and good fortune. Natural red coral is formed by coral polyps, grows incredibly slowly, and is non-renewable. Plus, it only thrives in three major straits globally (the Taiwan Strait, the Japan Strait, and the Baltic Sea), making it incredibly rare and precious.

Besides the stunning red coral, there were plenty of other craft items made from various materials.

This floor also housed tons of souvenir shops. And don’t forget the highest postbox in Taiwan! Visitors can grab a postcard and stamp from the 101 shop, get a special 101 commemorative stamp, and mail it right from here. How’s that for a unique souvenir?

You can find everything from gashapon (capsule toys) and other fun toys to specialty Taiwanese snacks, creative stationery with a local flair, 101-exclusive merchandise, piggy banks, and even “good Taiwanese water.” Most items even had some sweet deals. Plus, you can snap a photo with Taipei 101 in the background and create your own unique commemorative picture!

Next up, the 91st floor! The ticket office and entrance for the outdoor observation deck are on the south side (north is the exit). You can also take the stairs up to the 91st-floor outdoor observation deck, no extra ticket needed for that part!

As you walk to the 91st-floor outdoor observation deck, you’ll spot these wire grids of varying thicknesses. Turns out, these are special devices for Taipei 101’s annual New Year’s Eve fireworks display! Since late 2004, the building has put on a massive fireworks show every year from December 31st to January 1st, showcasing Taipei’s unique charm as a world-class city. Because of the sheer scale, for safety reasons, the building specifically designed these numerous “grids” to secure the fireworks, ensuring that each year’s show is as “spectacular” as possible.

Here’s a glimpse of the New Year’s Eve fireworks (image from the web).

There are seven 40x telescopes strategically placed around the deck. A minute of super-zoomed viewing will set you back NT$20. Not bad for some ultra-close-ups!

The deck is surrounded by metal railings. While you won’t have the glass glare issue like the indoor deck, honestly, the fences still keep you from getting that *totally* unobstructed view. But hey, fresh air!

And from the 91st floor, you can even look up at the 101st floor! The very top 101st-floor VIP reception area is usually reserved for visiting dignitaries. Or, if you’re celebrating a Taipei 101 anniversary, you’d need to drop a cool NT$1.01 million to get up there! While the view might not be *that* different from 89F or 91F, the viewing experience is definitely quieter and undisturbed – a true “God’s eye view” with VIP treatment, for sure!

After soaking it all in, it was time to take the elevator back down. Outside the building, you’ll find this cool sculpture called “Between Heaven and Earth,” created by French sculptor Ariane Moskoff in 2002. The artist aimed to create a self-sustaining, warmly human galaxy. Eight hemispheres form a grand circle, symbolizing the infinite cycles of the universe and the continuous flow of life – a modern nod to Chinese concepts like Bagua and ‘heaven is round, earth is square.’ It’s clear the artist was totally inspired by Eastern philosophy.

Also outside, there’s another set of colorful sculptures, covered with countless names. The first panel lists the names of those who tragically lost their lives during its construction, while the other panels bear the names of all the folks who donated to build this incredible skyscraper. A touching tribute!

And of course, the iconic LOVE sculpture, a must-have photo op for every visitor!