Happy New Year! 2023 has arrived! I’ve been in Taipei for a couple of years now. Since 2023 is my family’s last New Year in Taiwan, we decided to head to the Taipei 101 for the New Year’s Eve celebration. I’d of course seen the pictures and videos of the fireworks shooting off of the building in previous years. This year we decided to brave the crowds and see it in person. I often am already asleep before midnight so sharing New Year’s Eve with hundreds of thousands of people is quite the experience!

We drove and arrived to the area around 6pm. It did take quite awhile to find parking but we ended up a mere 1/2 mile away or so. The Taiwan MRT reported transporting 960,000 people to the area by 5pm. In retrospect it would have been a better idea to make dinner reservations but we were incredibly fortunate to find seats at Gordon Biersch without too long of a wait.

We walked the shops and enjoyed the lights and decorations ahead of the fireworks. Around 10pm we decided to secure a spot mere steps from the base of the Taipei 101 for viewing. The waiting was the hardest part. There was a misty light rain for most of the night. It was not umbrella weather for me but there were umbrellas stretched out as far as the eye could see in every direction. Some people brought plastic or blankets to sit on but most of us just stood and waited. My daughter and I played some silly games and chatted to pass the time. We also practiced counting down in Chinese from 10 to 1 so we would be ready when it was time.

Once midnight approached, all of the umbrellas closed and everyone’s attention turned to the Taipei 101. Being so close to the towering skyscraper itself, we really enjoyed being a part of the celebration and the fantastic view! The fireworks swirled and erupted from the building while the facade lit up with beautiful colors and messages. It lasted just over 5 minutes and truly was impressive!

I was a little worried about the crowds all dispersing at the end of the show but it wasn’t nearly as bad as I had anticipated. Post fireworks concerts swelled with crowds in the area and people captured their instagram worthy memories all around us. I hope you enjoy my pictures and video and Happy New Year to you!