Taipei 101 Observatory

Cityscape views and high design
Noteworthy for: At 508m this architecturally innovative building is the world's second tallest with, unsurprisingly, 101 floors.

Talk of the town: Taipei 101 boasts the world's fastest elevators, which take only 37 seconds to reach the top.
Designed to look like a bamboo stalk, people visit Taipei 101 for the stunning cityscape views from the outdoor observatory on the 91st floor. Come in the late afternoon to appreciate it by both day and night.

Those nervous of being out in the open air so high up can opt for the 89th floor observatory, which has vertigo-inducing glass bottom floors along with floor-to-ceiling windows. Do turn your attention inwards as well; the beautiful design boasts some incredible ornate details on the beams and columns. There is a small cafe and gift shop here too.

The upper levels are mainly used for financial companies, while the first five storeys are home to a fairly standard shopping mall, notable for housing Page One bookstore, which has the largest collection of English-language books in the city.