By Saaya.M
Taipei 101 Observatory
Like most big cities, Taipei has an icon which represents the city: Taipei 101. Its height is 509.2 m, and it was the world’s tallest building for three years. The tall, bamboo-shaped tower has attracted not only locals but also tourists. Today, it is seen as one of the tourist destinations that travellers must visit in Taipei. Its name Taipei 101 came from the number of floors (101). Taipei 101 also represents the symbol of the digital age and a sense of advancement by reaching over 100. It took seven years to build the tower, mainly led by Japanese-affiliated companies.
Taipei 101 shows Taiwan’s high level of technology to the world; however, some of its construction styles come from traditional Chinese architecture. . Its location and interior design were carefully selected based on Feng Shui (風水), which is a Chinese geomancy originally from ancient China. If you look at the tower from outside, it looks like it’s separated into eight blocks. This is because number eight is believed to bring good fortune in the economy in Chinese culture. You can also find some coin and safety box key shaped garnishes on the tower. Those shows the hope that all businesses will succeed and flourish.
Like other towers, Taipei 101 has observation decks. They are on the 88th and 89th floors with 270-degree views and an outdoor observation deck on the 91st floor. The outdoor deck is occasionally opened depending on the weather. You are able to buy tickets either on the site (5F) or online. Tickets per person costs $600 NTD ($20 USD); other discounts including group discounts are available. For detailed information, please check their official website.
Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan)
Very close to Taipei 101, there is a mountain called Elephant mountain (Xiang shan in Chinese). This mountain is famous for short hiking and its stunning view of Taipei city. Since you can enjoy the view of the Taipei cityscape with Taipei 101 in the foreground, without many crowds, it is one of the best hidden hot spots among tourists. It is very easy to access the Xiangshan hiking trail, which is about 15 minutes’ walk from MRT Xiangshan station. The mountain is not so high; it is 183m. It only takes 15 to 20 minutes to get to the main observation platform, so it is popular among people who want a short hiking experience and a great view. The best time to go and climb the mountain is during the late afternoon so that you can enjoy both the daytime view and the beautiful sunset from the mountain. Compared to the Taipei 101 observation deck, there are fewer tourists at the Xiangshan observation deck; however, there may still be many people during the weekend as it is becoming famous and popular among tourists.
This mountain is suitable for any hikers because of its ease and convenience; however, it is popular for also experienced hikers since they can continue hiking from Elephant mountain onto Tiger mountain (虎山 in Chinese) and other mountains such as Lion mountain (獅山) and Leopard mountain (豹山). These four mountains are called “four beasts mountains”, and many hikers try climbing these mountains to complete the four famous mountains in Taipei.
Information:
Taipei 101 Observatory
Ticket price: NTD $600/adult, NTD $540/student with valid ID, Free/children under 115cm
Access:
By MRT: Take the Red Line (Xiangshan train) to Taipei 101 station (台北101). After entering Taipei 101, head up to the 5TH floor to purchase a ticket for the observatory.
Address: No. 7, Section 5, Xinyi Road, Xinyi District, Taipei City, Taiwan 111
Opening hours: 09:00~22:00(Last entry is at 21:15, outdoor observation deck is open until 18:00.)
Warning:
Official regulations stipulate visitors with "improper attire or slippers" will not be permitted entry, and food is not permitted.
Both 5F and B1 provide entrances to the observatory deck, however, as B1 is designated primarily for Chinese tour groups, individual travelers are highly recommended to enter from 5F.
Website: www.taipei-101.com.tw/
Elephant mountain
Access:
By MRT: Take the Red (Xiangshan) Line to Xiangshan Station (象山). After arriving at the station, leave from Exit 2 and continue walking alongside the edge of the park. At the end of this road, take a left and follow until the entrance for Xiangshan Hiking Trail (象山登山步道). This is about 650 metres, and takes around 15 minutes to walk.
From Taipei 101: From the base of Taipei 101, walk east on Xinyi Road (信義路) for two blocks until you reach MRT Xiangshan Station. It’s only a 15-minute walk from 101 and is completely worth it. To get there faster, take a YouBike from the station across the street from 101 (MRT Exit 2), then return the bike at the park near the trail entrance.
Address: Alley 342, Lane 150, Section 5, Xinyi Road, Xinyi District, Taipei City, Taiwan 110
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