Rising in the bustling center of Taipei stands a true architectural marvel: Taipei 101, once the tallest building in the world. With exactly 101 floors above ground and five more underground, it’s more than just a symbol of progress – it’s a poetic structure, inspired by the form of a bamboo stalk and the aesthetics of a traditional Chinese pagoda.
At 508 meters tall, the tower opened in 2004 and still holds impressive records: the elevators are among the fastest in the world, racing at over 60 km/h (1,010 meters per minute) from the lobby to the observation deck on the 89th floor – in under 40 seconds.
What truly sets Taipei 101 apart, however, is what swings inside: a 728-ton tuned mass damper, a golden steel sphere with a diameter of 5.5 meters, suspended between the 87th and 92nd floors. It counters the movements caused by wind and earthquakes – a demonstration of how calm strength can tame even the most powerful forces of nature.
Our first encounter with the 101 was unplanned. On our first day, we intended to take it slow, just strolling around our hotel’s neighborhood. But then, we unexpectedly found ourselves at the base of a long staircase – the start of the Elephant Mountain Trail. The spontaneous hike through warm, humid air soon rewarded us with breathtaking views over the city – and of the majestic Taipei 101, rising like a steel tree from a digital future.
The following day brought the full experience: we rocketed up to the top observation deck in one of the high-speed elevators, where we were greeted with a panoramic view over Taipei’s densely built skyline, home to some 2.5 million residents. Like a living circuit board of streets, temples, skyscrapers, and forested hills, the city stretched out beneath us.
In that moment, it became clear: Taipei 101 is more than a building. It’s a statement – a symbol of ascent, balance, and the quiet quest for harmony between technology, nature, and spirit.
0009-0008-1422-7931