Taipei 101 is a must-visit attraction in Taipei and was at the top of my “things to do” list. I didn’t realise it was so close to Elephant Mountain. After my hike, I took a short 10-minute walk through the streets of Xinyi to reach Taipei’s tallest building. To my surprise, there was no queue for the viewing decks on the 89th to 91st floors. I paid the ticket price, 600NTD, which I thought was a bit expensive, but then I discovered that I had received discounts at the food and beverage outlets at the top. Of course, we all know I couldn’t resist the chance to enjoy cake at a height of 380 meters!
The elevator took 37 seconds to travel from the 5th to the 89th floor and is one of the fastest elevators in the world, beaten only by buildings in Guangzhou and Shanghai. Inside, it was dark, illuminated only by twinkling stars on the ceiling. A small screen displayed the increasing height alongside the elapsed time. I hardly had time to realise we were moving before the elevator reached the 89th floor, where I eagerly exited to enjoy the breathtaking views of Taipei.
The design of the 89th floor was in an open-plan square shape, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows that provided 360-degree views of the city and beyond. I was incredibly fortunate to visit on a clear day, allowing me to see the mountains far in the distance. I approached an empty window to take in the height, and it was rather daunting to look down at the road below. The cars appeared tiny, but the colourful billboards added vibrancy to the greyscale streets.
Before I visited Taipei 101, I thought the city was enormous. However, from above, I could spot several of its main attractions nearby. National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall was just a few streets away. Unfortunately, it was closed during my trip, so I was grateful to see it from above, even if I couldn’t visit in person.
While in Taiwan, I decided to try as many local foods as possible, and bubble tea was top of my list. The 89th floor of Taipei 101 hosts Milksha, a popular Taiwanese bubble tea shop. I finally tried green tea with mango boba, and I found it delicious. Sitting by the window with my tea, I watched planes take off and land at Songshan Airport. I loved how the windows were low enough that I could sit on the floor (or the windowsill) and fully enjoy the stunning views.
While exploring the windows on the 89th floor, I came across some giant robots. My photographer stopped at the spot for selfies, but I had my eyes set on a second snack stop. I had a discount coupon for Das Kafe D, and I knew it was time for cake.
My photographer was thrilled to find Baumkuchen topped with ice cream at the top of Taipei 101. Baumkuchen, a German cake, is known as tree stump cake because it resembles the rings of a tree stump. I enjoyed the Baumkuchen, but it was unfortunate that the café was located in the center of the 89th floor. This made it impossible to enjoy the view while I ate. Continuing on my route, I spotted some picnic tables and wished I had taken my coffee and cake there instead.
Walking through the 89th floor, I encountered several themed areas, including a camping section and an anime zone. I particularly enjoyed the camping area, where soft pillows were scattered on the floor, allowing visitors to sit and take in the stunning mountain views. Another area was styled like a Victorian secret garden. It looked beautiful, but a long line of people was waiting to take photographs, so I decided to skip the wait and continue exploring.
Another area was adorned with neon signs that decorated the windows, offering a view of a more urban section of Taipei. My favourite spot was the rainbow light section, notably the “Hello” light. The entire area had a vintage vibe that I loved. It’s well-known that my photographer’s work is often influenced by cyberpunk aesthetics and the neon glow of the 1980s. We spent quite some time there, simply enjoying the lights.
On the 89th floor, there was a small shop selling postcards, along with a post box for sending them. Although I didn’t send a postcard, I did manage to get a stamp from the top of Taipei 101. I always forget to bring a notebook in my backpack, which is something I need to remember for next time.
I walked up the stairs to the 91st floor, which is the outdoor viewing deck. It was very windy and cold outside. The weather was changing, and low clouds and haze were beginning to roll in from the coast. Unfortunately, the rows of skyscrapers were becoming silhouettes in the distance. The view was disappearing quickly, so I headed back inside to see the huge Wind Damping Ball (cue Miley Cyrus singing “Wrecking Ball”). The view up to the spire of Taipei 101 was vertigo-inducing. There is an option to go up to one of the higher floors, but I was a little bit too chicken.
The 90th floor lift lobby was full of artwork depicting Taipei 101 and the city. I enjoyed viewing this colourful and unique collection, as it featured a mix of amateur pieces and works by professional artists. Each piece provided an individual, often personal, take on Taiwan’s tallest tower, and I loved seeing the different perspectives.
I wrapped up my trip to Taipei 101 just as the rain began to fall, so I took a quick detour to my hotel to change into winter clothes and grab my trusty umbrella (or as my photographer named it, Auntie Bella). I must admit that both my photographer and I were dressed in winter attire, even though the temperature was still 18 degrees Celsius (let’s keep that between us and not Northern England).
Once bundled up and ready to explore again, I hopped on the MRT to Lungshan Temple (龍山寺) in the heart of Wanhua, Taipei’s oldest district. The impressive temple dates back to the 1700s. However, the current structure was rebuilt after World War II, because American bombs damaged it during the war. I arrived in the early afternoon to find the temple buzzing with activity, as it was almost time for one of the three daily ceremonies held there.
There was also a small crowd of people in the back left corner, each giving candy offerings and praying. Whilst we couldn’t understand everything the sign said, we believe it was to pray to Yue Lao (月老), asking for love or his matchmaking services (a simplified and free bad translation from my photographer). The temple has an artificial waterfall on the right side and a beautiful koi pond on the left. It is one of the most captivating temples I have visited. I doubt my photographs do the temple justice.
Upon leaving the temple, I walked through Huaxi Street night market and past Bangka Qingshan Temple. The grey streets were covered in neon signs, reflected perfectly in the puddles. The neon signs led me past the Red House and into Ximending District, which I didn’t explore because the rain was getting heavier.
My next stop was the infamous Snow King Ice Cream shop (雪王冰淇淋). The shop is known for its unique flavours of ice cream. The shop felt like an old diner with the stools joined to the tables. I tried the jasmine tea and pineapple ice cream scoops; the jasmine tea was best as it had a delicate yet floral flavour. I also enjoyed the pineapple as it had a mild taste and was refreshing like a sorbet.
The weather was worsening, so I headed back to the MRT station and went across to Da’an Park to go to Din Tai Fung for dinner after a great day of exploring Taipei.
