Taipei 101 Celebrates their 21st Anniversary with a Spectacular Show

Dezembro 31, 2025

Happy Birthday to the Taipei 101

Taipei 101, the world-famous skyscraper in Taiwan’s capital, is preparing to mark a landmark anniversary in grand style. Opened on December 31, 2004, the iconic 508-meter tower has now stood on Taipei’s skyline for over two decades. Over the years, Taipei 101 has evolved into a symbol of modern Taiwan and one of the world’s most recognizable stages for welcoming the New Year. Each December 31, hundreds of thousands of people gather around the tower for a dazzling countdown celebration that captures global attention. As a proud member of the Federação Mundial das Grandes Torres (WFGT), the Taipei 101 stands among the world’s most celebrated observation towers.

From Record-Breaking Heights to a Lasting Legacy

When Taipei 101 opened in 2004, it instantly claimed the title of the world’s tallest building, surpassing Kuala Lumpur’s Petronas Towers. Rising 508 meters with 101 floors, it became the first structure in history to exceed half a kilometer in height. Taipei 101 held the world’s tallest-building title for five years, until Dubai’s Burj Khalifa was completed in 2010.
Yet Taipei 101’s legacy is defined by far more than height alone. Constructed between 1999 and 2004, the tower rose in a region known for earthquakes and typhoons. During construction, a 6.8-magnitude earthquake in 2002 famously toppled a crane on site, a dramatic moment that tested the project’s resilience. The building itself remained structurally sound and ultimately opened on schedule.
This triumph over environmental challenges earned Taipei 101 international recognition, including its inclusion by the Discovery Channel among the “Seven Wonders of Engineering.” It was the only skyscraper on the list at the time and a first for Asia, highlighting how revolutionary its design was in the early 21st century.
Beyond its structural achievements, the Taipei 101 has also been recognized for sustainability. In 2011, it received LEED Platinum certification, becoming at the time the tallest and largest green building in the world. Two decades after opening, the Taipei 101 remains the tallest building in Taiwan and one of the most recognizable skyscrapers globally.

Architecture Inspired by Tradition and Innovation

One of the reasons Taipei 101 continues to captivate observers is its distinctive architectural identity. Designed by C.Y. Lee & Partners, the tower blends postmodern skyscraper design with traditional Asian symbolism. Its form resembles a giant bamboo stalk, composed of eight stacked segments. In Chinese culture, bamboo symbolizes growth and resilience, while the number eight represents prosperity, turning the tower into a vertical expression of good fortune.
The building is adorned with auspicious decorative elements, including ruyi motifs, stylized dragon imagery, and a pinnacle that evokes both a blooming flower and a dragon’s head. These details root the skyscraper firmly in regional cultural heritage, even as it rises in steel and glass.
Engineering innovation lies at the heart of the design. Located in the Pacific Ring of Fire and exposed to typhoon winds, the Taipei 101 was built to endure extreme conditions. Its most famous feature is the 660-metric-ton tuned mass damper, a massive golden sphere suspended between the upper floors. Acting as a stabilizing pendulum, the damper counteracts wind and seismic movement, significantly reducing sway. It is one of the largest and most visible dampers in the world, and a point of fascination for visitors.
Deep foundations anchored into bedrock, flexible structural systems, and advanced materials allow the tower to bend safely rather than resist rigidly. Together, these innovations enabled Taipei 101 to overcome both geographic and technological limits, earning its reputation as a modern engineering wonder.

An Unforgettable Visitor Experience at the Top

As a member of the Federação Mundial das Grandes Torres, the Taipei 101 offers an observation experience on par with the best in the world. A visit to the Taipei 101 Observatory begins with a thrilling ride in one of the tower’s high-speed elevators, which once held the world record. These elevators carry visitors to the 89th-floor indoor observatory in just 37 seconds, reaching speeds of 1,010 meters per minute.
At nearly 400 meters above ground, visitors enjoy floor-to-ceiling panoramic views of Taipei and the surrounding mountains. On clear days, the entire Taipei Basin stretches out below. One of the observatory’s highlights is the close-up view of the massive tuned mass damper, allowing guests to witness firsthand the engineering that keeps the tower stable.
Weather permitting, visitors can also access the outdoor observatory on the 91st floor, where unobstructed 360-degree views and open air create a truly unforgettable experience, especially at night, when the city lights shimmer below. With thousands of visitors each day, the observatory has earned its reputation as the “window of Taiwan.”

A Skyline Icon for Celebrations and New Year’s Eve

Taipei 101 has become inseparable from New Year’s Eve celebrations in Taiwan. Each year, the tower serves as the centerpiece of the country’s largest countdown event, transforming into a multi-level fireworks launch platform at midnight. International media regularly feature the display among the world’s most spectacular New Year celebrations, placing it alongside iconic events in Sydney and New York.
Crowds numbering in the hundreds of thousands, and often approaching one million across the city, gather around the Xinyi District to watch the countdown concert and fireworks. As midnight approaches, light displays and countdown projections illuminate the tower, culminating in a cascade of fireworks erupting from multiple levels of the structure. Each year’s show carries a unique theme, often reflecting messages of unity and national pride.

The Upcoming Spectacle: A 21st Anniversary Celebration

Looking beyond the 21st birthday, the Taipei 101 is showing no signs of slowing down its innovative spirit. For the 2025/2026 New Year’s celebration, the tower has announced a bold “Spark 101” series, a five-day countdown festival starting December 27 that will transform the skyscraper into a giant animation screen
each night. In a groundbreaking collaboration with Disney-Pixar, beloved characters (like those from Toy Story) will be projected onto Taipei 101’s façade, marking the first-ever projection mapping show on such a skyscraper. Each evening will feature different themed light displays, building up to a “Spark the Night” finale on New Year’s Eve. Before the clock strikes midnight on December 31, 2025, a three-minute illumination titled “Taiwan’s Invisible Heroes” will pay tribute to everyday heroes in Taiwanese society. Then, as the New Year arrives, a six-minute fireworks and music show, the longest in Taipei 101’s history, will erupt from the tower, synchronized with an original soundtrack created by local young musicians. Notably, the 2026 fireworks will use eco-friendly low-smoke pyrotechnics, reflecting a commitment to greener celebrations. For those unable to attend in person, Taiwan’s broadcasters and even international networks will be live-streaming the show.

Two Decades of Towering Achievement

From its groundbreaking engineering and sustainability leadership to its role as a global celebration icon, the Taipei 101 continues to inspire millions. As the Taipei 101 celebrates this anniversary, it looks ahead not just as a monument of the past, but as a dynamic landmark ready to keep reaching higher. On behalf of all members of the World Federation Of Great Towers, we wish the Taipei 101 a happy birthday!

Federação Mundial das Grandes Torres

A WFGT foi fundada em 1989 como uma organização sem fins lucrativos e apresenta as grandes torres do mundo, que se tornaram símbolos das suas cidades.