Taipei 101 and Xinyi in Taipei

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Xinyi is the modern centre of Taipei. Wide streets, glass towers and large shopping malls fill the area around Taipei 101, which was the tallest building in the world when it opened in 2004. Skywalks link many of the malls, so you can walk from one to the next above the traffic. In the evening, the district fills with diners, shoppers and people heading to bars and clubs.

Taipei 101

Taipei 101 is about 508 metres tall and has 101 floors above ground. Its design looks like a stack of boxes, a little like a bamboo stem, and it is easy to see from almost anywhere in the city. It held the title of the world's tallest building until 2010. The building has its own MRT station, Taipei 101/World Trade Center, on the red line. The lower floors are a large luxury shopping mall with a food court in the basement. At New Year, fireworks are launched from the tower, and the show is famous across Asia.

The observatory

The indoor observatory is on the 89th floor. Very fast lifts carry visitors up in well under a minute, and your ears may pop on the way. From the top you can see the whole Taipei basin, the river and the mountains around it. One floor above the main deck, you can see the tuned mass damper. This is a huge steel ball, weighing several hundred tonnes, that hangs inside the building. It moves to reduce shaking during strong winds and earthquakes. Buy tickets online or at the counter on the fifth floor. Clear days and sunset give the best views.

Shopping in Xinyi

Around Taipei 101 there are many large department stores and malls, joined by covered skywalks. Shin Kong Mitsukoshi has several buildings with fashion, cosmetics and big food halls. Breeze Xinyi, ATT 4 Fun and Bellavita are close by. Most malls open late in the morning and stay open until about 10pm. Basement food halls are a good place for a quick, clean meal with many choices. Eslite has a large bookstore and design shop in the area. For a different mood, the small lanes south of Xinyi Road have local cafés and noodle shops.

Viewpoints

You do not need to go up Taipei 101 to get a great view of it. Elephant Mountain, a short walk from Xiangshan MRT station, gives the classic view of the tower above the city. The climb is steep but takes only 20 to 30 minutes. Sunset is the most popular time. Some rooftop bars and hotel restaurants in Xinyi also have tower views, but these can be expensive. For a free view at street level, walk around the Xinyi plazas at night, when the tower is lit up. Its lights often change colour for special days.

Nightlife

Xinyi has the biggest nightlife scene in Taipei. Bars and clubs are found in and around ATT 4 Fun and the nearby towers. Many open late and stay busy until the early morning on Friday and Saturday. There are cocktail bars, rooftop lounges and large dance clubs. Taipei also has a strong craft beer and cocktail scene, with some bars that win regional awards. Many bars have a dress code, so avoid sandals and shorts at clubs. The MRT stops around midnight, but taxis are easy to find. Taipei is generally a safe city at night.

Taipei 101 and Xinyi at a glance

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