AFmag.net

Taipei 101 (Taiwan)

francesca 5 February 2007 Tourist Spot 9 views One Comment  Print This Post

Taipei Financial Center or what is more known as Taipei 101 has held the record as the tallest building in the world since its official completion in October 17, 2003. Its ominous height of 1,671 feet and strategic location makes it visible to almost all corners of Taipei.

It will continue to hold its record until the completion in 2008 of the Barj Dubai in the United Arab Emirates which is rumored to be 2,313 feet. Taipei 101 is not only famous for its record-breaking height, it also boasts of having the world’s fastest and longest elevator systems. The lifts can travel from the ground floor to the top at 63kph in only 39 seconds.

The building’s structure and design incorporates symbolical significance. It is patterned to a bamboos stalk, which to the Chinese symbolizes humility and modesty. The structure has eight “nodesâ€? with eight floors each, eight being a lucky number to the Chinese.

At each corner of the eight-floor nodes are dragons for protection. Replicas of Chinese coins on each side of the 26^th floor level represents the purpose of the building as a financial center.

Contrary to what the name of the building suggests, Taipei 101 is actually composed of 106 floors. Four (4) floors are underground. The first four floors from the ground are comprised of a huge shopping center.

Tourists can take in a 360 degree view of Taipei from an observation deck at the 89^th floor. There, tourists may also take a glimpse at another world record-holder and an engineering wonder, the 660-ton mass damper which protects the skyscraper from high winds and earthquakes.

Tickets are being sold to tourists daily (except on Lunar New Year) from 10am to 10pm at NT$350 for adults and NT$320 for children. An extra NT$100 will give tourists access to the 91st floor outdoor observatory. With a further extra NT$100, tourists can climb the last two floors to the highest observation platform in the world.

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...