Reaching New Heights

Taiwan, one of the four Asian Tigers (highly developed economies of Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan), is divided from the Chinese mainland by the Taiwan Strait and by a yawning political divide. Politically, Taiwan is known as the Republic of China (ROC), and has been ruled by the nationalist government founded by Chiang Kai-shek since 1945, but the threat of invasion by the People's Republic of China (PRC) seems to be growing dailiy. Politics aside, this is a land where skyscrapers rub shoulders with mountains and coastlines. The island was christened "IIha Formosa" (Beautiful Island) by the Portuguese in the 1540s. When moving beyond the futuristic capital city of Taipai, the surroundings include forested peaks, giant Buddhas, hot springs, basalt islands and tribal villages.
Our friend [Jim Repp] mentioned his past experience flying for the U.S. Air Force into Taipei. The guide also shared how American servicemen in the 1940s and 1950s played a crucial role in shaping the economic trajectory of the city. Of course, now Taiwan's semiconductor industry is a global powerhouse, accounting for over 60% of worldwide semiconductor manufacturing. The industry generates over $170 billion in annual revenue and employs 600,000 people locally. Taiwan's firms are a crucial supply chain to companies like Apple, Google and Nvidia. Interestingly, the guide noted that while the average U.S. worker puts in around 1,800 hours annually, Taiwanese employees often work significantly longer, clocking in around 3,000 hours per year

Today we were reaching new heights in the heart of Taiwan at Taipei 101.

Taipei 101 is an iconic landmark in the heart of Taiwan's capital city. As the former tallest building in the world, it offers breathtaking views from its observation decks on the 88th and 89th floors.

The elevator at Taipei 101 in Taiwan travels from the ground floor to the 88th floor observation deck in just 37 seconds or 1,010 meters per minute. Here's the process of our ascent:

The rapid ascent is achieved through the use of high-speed elevator technology developed by Toshiba. When the elevator rises and falls so quickly, the rapid change in air pressure can cause discomfort for passengers, so the elevators are equipped with constant pressure control systems to ensure a comfortable ride. We marveled at the building's impressive engineering, including the massive tuned mass damper that stabilizes the structure during earthquakes and strong winds.

The locals provided a captivating and immersive experience, allowing the audience to witness the vibrant traditions and customs of the Chinese New Year celebration, particularly the Year of the Dragon.