Nothing crowds the streets of downtown Taipei and the carts of the Taipei Metro more than the night of New Year’s Eve. As the friends, families, and, of course, couples fill every road, street, and alley with the slightest view of Taipei 101, everyone is looking forward for the new year ahead of us–but also behind at that rude man who keeps on bumping into you. Well, abandon that this year. Follow our tips and this year you’ll be able to skip those queues, avoid the crowd, and actually enjoy the celebration.
1) Elevation is King
Climb any of the mountains enclosing the Taipei basin to get a nice aerial view of the city. Mt. Elephant, which now has its dedicated Metro station is the best mountain to climb, but it will definitely be really crowded. If you do choose to take on this challenge, remember to head up with food and drinks before 8 PM to be safe. Note that there aren’t any toilets at the observatory docks atop the mountain so take it easy on those Cokes. Mt. Tiger, situated next to Mt. Elephant, is also a really good choice but it will probably just be as crowded. If you want a different, possibly less crowded option, you can try the Yuanshan Scenic Area next to The Grand Hotel. Here you will get a really wide clear view of the Taipei skyline.
2) Do Not Enter
Roads surrounding Taipei 101 will be closed by the city government on the last day of the year, stopping all traffic from entering the restricted area. This allows spectators to picnic on the pavement while the fireworks loom overhead. Even though the roadblocks open up the streets for viewers, the streets are normally filled by around 9 PM. So if you do want to take a picnic on the avenue, make sure you arrive with blankets, food, and drinks around 8 PM.
3) Music and much more
The city government does host an annual New Year’s Eve Countdown Party at the Civic Plaza. Those interested in performances by famous Mandarin artists should try to arrive at the Plaza around 1 to 2 hours prior to the 7 PM starting time.
4) VIP Parties
Of course, there are always those “exclusive” “invite-only” events that we all wish we could attend. Instead of relying on that hope for but never received invitation, you could throw your own party. Anyone living around Xinyi, Daan, Dazhi, and even some locations in Tienmu might get a spectacular view of the fireworks.
Can’t see Taipei 101 from your house? Try booking a room at W Taipei, Le Meridien, Grand Hyatt, or the more affordable Home Hotel. By booking a room facing 101 at these selected hotels, you could be throwing one of the best parties with some of the best views this New Year’s Eve.
For more specifics, please check out this Google map we’ve created for you as a guide: http://tinyurl.com/newyearstoptips