Taipei 101 Observatory Deck Entry Ticket

Taipei 101, the city's landmark tower

Rising about 508 metres above the Xinyi district, Taipei 101 was the tallest building in the world when it opened in 2004, and it remains the symbol of Taiwan's capital. Its design is inspired by a stalk of bamboo, a symbol of growth and resilience in Asian culture: the tower is divided into eight stacked segments, as the number eight is linked to prosperity, and decorative motifs of ancient coins and ruyi symbols adorn its facades.

The building was engineered to withstand typhoon winds and earthquakes, which are frequent in Taiwan, and it was one of the first skyscrapers to receive a high green-building certification. At night the tower is lit in changing colours, and on New Year's Eve it becomes the stage for a famous fireworks display. Taipei 101 tickets for the observatory are the best way to experience it from the inside.

The high-speed lift and the 89th-floor observatory

Your visit begins with the lift ride, itself an attraction. The lifts climb from the 5th floor to the 89th in around 37 seconds, among the fastest passenger lifts in the world, with pressurised cabins to protect your ears and a display showing the speed and altitude. Children and adults alike watch the numbers climb in amazement.

At the top, the indoor observatory wraps around the tower with floor-to-ceiling windows. You can see the grid of Taipei's streets, the green ridges of the city's parks, Yangmingshan's volcanic mountains to the north, the Tamsui River winding to the sea and, on clear days, the hills of New Taipei. Telescopes help you pick out landmarks, and information panels explain what you are looking at.

The tuned mass damper

One of the most fascinating parts of the visit is the tuned mass damper, a giant golden steel sphere weighing about 660 tonnes suspended between the 87th and 92nd floors. When strong winds or earthquakes make the tower sway, the sphere moves in the opposite direction and absorbs the motion, keeping the building stable and comfortable for the people inside.

From a viewing area on the observatory level, you can look down on the enormous ball and its huge hydraulic cylinders, and exhibits explain how it works and how much it moved during past typhoons. Cheerful cartoon mascots inspired by the damper make it fun for children too. It is one of the few dampers in the world that visitors can see, and it shows why Taipei 101 is considered an engineering landmark.

Planning your visit and the Xinyi district

The observatory is open every day from 11:00 to 21:00, with last entry at 20:15; hours may change during long holidays. Is Taipei 101 worth visiting? On a clear day the views are spectacular, and many visitors return at sunset to watch the city lights come on. The best time to visit Taipei 101 is on a weekday afternoon in autumn or winter, when the air is often clearer and queues are shorter.

The tower stands in Xinyi, Taipei's modern business and shopping district, with elevated walkways linking malls and department stores. Below the observatory, the Taipei 101 mall has many restaurants. If you are wondering how to get to Taipei 101, the MRT Red Line stops at Taipei 101/World Trade Center station, connected directly to the mall.