Guide to Taipei 101: Mall Directory
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If you ever visit Taiwan, this is the place you wouldn’t want to miss! The one and only: Taipei 101. The Taipei 101 is a super skyscraper in Taipei‘s business district with a building function that serves as a modern technological marvel, a tourist attraction, and office building. With metro access right beside the building’s location, Taipei 101 is an easy site to visit in Taipei and is also well-connected to the rest of the city. Located in the finest district Taipei has to offer, TAIPEI 101 is the largest engineering project ever in the history of the Taiwan construction business. Supported by a dozen or so domestic businesses, the TFC Corp. was fortunate to have local and international experts in charge of the planning, and world-class architect C.Y. Lee was responsible for the design of the project. The design transcends the uni-body concept and is based on the Chinese number 8, a numeral long considered lucky in Chinese culture. Eight-floor structural units are connected one-by-one on top of each other to form the whole. This kind of rhythmic aesthetic is new to skyscrapers.
The sectional TAIPEI 101 employs a Mega Structure System for disaster and wind damage prevention. As every eighth floor constitutes an autonomous space, wind effects on the surface seen in high-rise buildings are eliminated. The design of the foundation guarantees pedestrian safety and comfort. Resembling the flexible yet persistent bamboo that rises into the sky, the building is a reflection of traditional Chinese building philosophy. Inclining 7 degrees inwards, the structure increases in size as it gets higher. The transparent and non-reflective curtain walls are energy efficient and heat reflective, enabling those in Taiwan’s tallest building to have a clear view of the world around them. High-tech materials and innovative illumination creates a see-through effect with transparency and clarity that facilitates the harmony between the building and its natural environment.
Taipei 101 also has one of the world’s fastest elevators and can take you from the 5th floor all the way to the 89th in 37 seconds (with top speeds of 37.7 mph). The Taipei 101 has some alternative names, including the Taipei World Financial Center and the Taipei Financial Center, which was given to the building on account of the building’s owner, The Taipei Financial Center Corporation, before coming to be known as Taipei 101.
A fun bit of trivia is that there is rumored to be a special club on the top floor of the building, called Summit 101, but not much more is known about it than that! On your next visit to Taipei, why not take a trip to Taipei 101 and see the architectural marvel with your own eyes?
Restaurants in Taipei 101
Taiwan’s premier international shopping destination, featuring luxury goods, fashions, and fine dining, Taipei 101 Mall has gathered together the finest in fashion and refined dining from all around the world. Our customers’ wishes are thoughtfully catered to in a world-class space that brings together sensory delights, a wonderful atmosphere, and architectural aesthetics, giving form to limitless imagination. Here, you can enjoy your shopping experience in comfort and total relaxation. Taipei 101 Mall joins the ranks of world-class shopping districts such as New York’s Fifth Avenue, Paris’ Champs-Élysées, and Rome’s Via Condotti, with flagship stores and all-new design concepts to offer consumers the richest array of shopping choices. Whether from the perspective of its high-end goods, design flair, trend-setting lifestyles, or sumptuous cuisine, Taipei 101 offers consumers 101% fresh choices in fashion and dining from all around the world. Here are some of the restaurants you may choose from after a few days of shopping:
1. Din Tai Fung Chinese Taipei 101 Restaurant
The most famous place to try out your very first bite of Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings) is Din Tai Fung. And they have one huge branch right here inside Taipei 101. Din Tai Fung is known internationally for its paper-thin wrapped xiao long bao with 18 folds. The New York Times named it one of the top ten restaurants in the world in 1993. In November 2009, the Hong Kong and Macau 2010 edition of the Michelin Guide awarded the restaurant’s first Hong Kong branch at Tsim Sha Tsui, Silvercord Branch, a Michelin star. The Michelin Guide recommended the restaurant’s second branch in Hong Kong at Causeway Bay, Yee Wo Branch, in December 2010, as well as Hong Kong’s Silvercord Branch in 2013. Eating at Din Tai Fung is one of the most highly recommended activities for visitors to Taiwan, and for good reason. Despite being a chain restaurant with big seating rooms and high turnover, they manage to churn out incredibly tasty dishes that have gained international popularity.
What to order:
– Spicy pickled cucumber. The cucumber chunks are lightly pickled so that they still retain some crunch, and they’re doused in an oil that has just the right amount of spice to tickle your tastebuds. This dish makes the perfect appetizer and it’s one of the cheapest items on the menu.
– Braised eggplant. This dish takes locally grown Chinese eggplant, cooks it to the perfect texture, and then dresses it with a blend of sauces. The result is a juicy and flavourful appetizer that you’ll love if you like eggplant — and might even change your opinion if you don’t!
– Pork chop fried rice with eggs. The bed of rice, fried with egg and spring onion, soaks up juices from the meat, making it moist and flavourful. This isn’t just your average fried rice.
– Xiao Long Bao. At least one order of xiaolongbao is a must at Din Tai Fung, regardless of which of the multiple types you choose. The standard pork XLB (NT$110 for 5) is always a great option — it’s marked as a recommended dish on the menu — but we like to switch it up sometimes. Crab adds a whole extra layer to the soup, making the broth even more flavourful. If you like crab, you’ll obsess over these, and if you don’t, just stick to the always-delicious pork! Vegetarian options are available too.
Tips:
Unless you go at very off-peak hours (the middle of the afternoon), Din Tai Fung nearly always has a wait. They don’t take reservations, so you’ll need to physically go to the restaurant to get a number and a spot in the queue. They’ll give you a paper menu so that you can mark your orders while waiting, turn it in ahead of time, and start receiving food as soon as you sit down! Though the waits are long, Din Tai Fung has their queuing system organized down to a science. You can actually check the current wait times for each Din Tai Fung branch on their website or app. Both the website and app conveniently display the queue number currently being called, so you can leave the restaurant and do something else nearby while tracking the queue on the go.
2. Salt & Stone
Salt & Stone, a fashion-style Italian cuisine from California, is a restaurant based on the theme of “Fashion California Cuisine”. Almost all the items are hand-made in the kitchen. A variety of European bread, the name of the restaurant is the two main elements of their meals. The restaurant is decorated in California LA style, and the overall bright and open space design creates a relaxed and laid-back dining atmosphere. Excellent meals, friendly service and a relaxed atmosphere make it a great place for a dinner in Taipei.
3. DingXian 101 Gourmet Restaurant
With over 50 years of history in Taiwanese seafood cuisine, the best team of DingXian 101 Gourmet Restaurant had invested 250 million in the world’s tallest Taiwanese seafood restaurant at the height of 86F, located at the most dazzling landmark building that is Taipei 101. Applying concepts of luxury, style, comfort, and the design philosophy of coexisting with nature, the construction of DingXian 101 emphasizes on building a natural and comfortable dining atmosphere. The space is presented as a glamorous palace through unobstructed views and elegant arrangements with extraordinary taste.
4. 1+1 pot MINI
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One Plus One Catering Group, an expert in hot pot cuisine for more than 18 years, has launched a brand-new brand “1+1 Pot MINI“, which is Taiwan’s first instant exclusive pot that focuses on double main meals, emphasizing that the set menu can be used. Choose two different main meals at the same time. The soup is a combination of various ingredients carefully selected by the chef and combined with a golden ratio. After 10 hours of slow cooking, it produces a golden, translucent, sweet and sour soup. With selected sea and land main meal ingredients, you can enjoy one-pot and double main meals instantly. Customers of “1+1 pot MINI” love it for its high quality food!
5. THE Shanghai
The so-called obsession and love for “food” come from deep hobbies, desire for exploration, taste for appreciation, and the pursuit of a better life. The Shanghai cuisine of “THE Shanghai” integrates the advantages of various Chinese cuisines, and through hundreds of years of tempering, it has created a true Chinese cuisine heritage. With infinite curiosity, “THE Shanghai” continues to absorb contemporary diverse and new things, and creates unique dishes that are close to life, but not so ordinary. The nostalgic re-engraving of “THE Shanghai” at 101 is like a key linking the past and the present. It opens the treasure box named “Shiguang”, easily awakening the past memories sleeping in the corner of the head, and swaying. That unknown emotion; we sincerely invite you to experience Zhang Ailing’s “eating is the most basic art of life” and enjoy the inclusive modern service.
6. Hunghwa Teppanyaki
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Hunghwa Teppanyaki was founded in 1978, when teppanyaki had just begun to take off in Taiwan. Ushering in a new era for teppanyaki, it is now celebrated around the world for popularizing teppanyaki in Taiwan. To better serve its customers, Hunghwa has chosen to open a series of locations in shopping malls for higher visibility and a bigger potential customer base. We hope to bring the joy of teppanyaki to a wider section of society. We serve exquisite feasts improved over thirty years of experience. With luxuriously furnished booths, comfortable seating, and top-quality ingredients, they aim to provide you with every comfort in our service. Together with the skills of their top chefs, we ensure an unforgettable dining experience.
Other things to do around the area
1. Climb Elephant Mountain
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This small mountain hike is just the right amount for you to end with a lovely view of Taipei 101 and a dash of romantic sunset. Situated in the Nangang District, an easily accessible Elephant mountain makes for the best place to get panorama views of Taipei. It’s a short and steep hike from Xiangshan metro station, stone’s throw away from the iconic Taipei 101. You can make it up there within half an hour as long as you are physically fit. If you are trying to make it up there for sunset or sunrise, make sure to allow enough time for the hike. There are additional resting stations and viewing stations on the way. The hiking path is covered by trees, so it would be a pity to pass the sunset or sunrise on the stairway.
2. Visit Xinyi Assembly Hall
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At a corner in Taipei’s high-end Xinyi District, a few low-rise houses sit closely together. These somewhat crowded buildings chronicled the tears and joy of veterans who migrated to Taiwan in the early days. This is the former site of Taipei City’s Military Dependents’ Village, called the “Sisinan Village”. The Hall consists of four symmetrical buildings. The houses that sat tightly next to each other have been converted into an open space for events and exhibitions. The premise now consists of an exhibition hall, Military Dependents’ Village Exhibition Hall, performance hall and community hall. The exterior still retains the unique low-rise and the simple, rustic style of the Military Dependents’ Village. The narrow alleys and footpaths will take the visitors down memory lane. It is a fascinating contrast to the neighboring towering Taipei 101 and surrounding modern buildings, a compelling testimony of Taipei’s urban development.
3. Songshan Cultural and Creative Park
The 6.6-hectares Songshan Cultural and Creative Park in Taipei’s Xinyi District was completed in 1937 as the Songshan Tobacco Factory, which was one of the seed companies of a monopoly system mandated by the Taiwan Governor-General Office. The premises were one of Taiwan’s pioneers of modern industry, as well as the first professional tobacco plant. A gracefully simple Japanese modernist structure, the factory features meticulously crafted face cams, glasswork and bronze nails that made it arguably a “model factory” at that time. When Japan lost the war in 1945, the Taiwan Provincial Monopoly Bureau took over the factory and renamed it “Songshan Tobacco Factory of Taiwan Provincial Monopoly Bureau”. The factory ceased production of cigarettes in 1998 for concerns over urban planning, regulatory changes in the tobacco and liquor marketing system, as well as shrinking demand. It became a relic of the past after being merged into the Taipei Cigarette Plant.
Why not visit right away?
We know all you wanderlust people are craving to explore and travel the world again as soon as possible, but in order to be responsible human beings, we are staying safe and healthy in our houses. Yet, this does not mean that you are missing-out on all the exciting fun! We here at MyProGuide offer live virtual tours. And we have one for the Taipei 101 area!
What is so special about MyProGuide’s virtual tours? They are all conducted LIVE. You will be getting a live tour around your selected spots, and you can INTERACT with the tour guide in REAL-TIME. All your questions will be solved right-on-the-spot. It’s just like embarking on an adventure and taking a tour in person without all the walking, sweating, and jet-lagging. If you’re interested in MyProGuide’s Taipei 101 live virtual tour, click here.
