Ring in the New Year with the Taipei 101 fireworks—just don’t end up in the west’s “minefield”

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Ready for New Year’s Eve? The Taipei 101 fireworks show has become a must-do on many people’s bucket lists, but the public should pay attention to the wind direction that day and avoid the “minefield.” Weather data shows that the northern part of Taiwan will experience easterly winds on New Year’s Eve, so people should choose to watch the fireworks from the east or north side of Taipei 101, and try to avoid the west side, such as the areas around Xinyi Road and Ren’ai Road—otherwise, you might only see a “foggy mess.”

▲Are you ready to watch the Taipei 101 New Year’s Eve fireworks? (Photo provided by cloud user, file photo)

Unlike previous years, this year’s easterly winds are favorable for viewing the 101 fireworks from the east and north. Taking Taipei City as an example, areas such as Songshan, Nangang, Neihu, and Datong are better choices. The west side of Taipei 101 is a downwind area, where people may only see a wall of black smoke—including the areas around Xinyi Road and Ren’ai Road, which usually draw large crowds. More distant areas such as the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Ximending, and Wanhua should also be avoided if possible.

The Taipei City Geotechnical Engineering Office recently also recommended15 hiking trails and 4 scenic spotsfor enjoying the 101 fireworks, among which the Xiangshan and Hushan trails in Xinyi District, close to the Taipei 101 building, offer excellent views and great convenience. In addition, spots such as the Six Giant Rocks on the Xiangshan Trail, the Jifu Temple Plaza or photography platform, the 120 Heights Pavilion on the Hushan Trail, and the Hushan Peak Platform are also great choices for watching the New Year’s Eve fireworks.

▲The view of Taipei 101 from Xiangshan is spectacular. (Photo fromTaipei Tourism Bureau’s Facebook fan page))