The dazzling fireworks show at Taipei 101 has been the climax of New Year’s Eve countdown parties in Taipei since the skyscraper was completed in 2004, but the tradition may become history after a 272m-tall building nearby is completed in 2015.
Media reports say the new building is to be built on a 5,357 ping (17,709m2) plot of land just 60m from the 509m-high Taipei 101 and will have 45 floors, making it the second-tallest building in the city.
The plot of land, which now houses the Taipei World Trade Center’s Hall 2, was leased by the Taipei City Government to Nan Shan Life Insurance Co for 50 years for a royalty of NT$26.8 billion (US$894 million) in a contract that was inked last year.
According to Taipei 101 spokesman Michael Liu (劉家豪), the safety distance for fireworks displays is 100m and although the new building will not be situated right next to Taipei 101, it will be just 60m away.
“The new skyscraper’s close proximity to Taipei 101 poses a problem to the design of the building’s countdown fireworks show. Because the vertical safety distance for fireworks displays is 150m, setting off fireworks from the 89th floor could be a problem,” Liu said.
However, as construction is still in the preparatory phase, this year’s fireworks show is unlikely to be affected, Liu said, adding that Taipei 101 officials would meet with the insurance corporation and the Taipei City Government soon to discuss possible solutions to the problem.
In response, Nan Shan said its project was being carried out in accordance with city regulations and that the planned building’s surroundings had been factored into its design.
“The company hopes that the new building can bring about mutual prosperity with businesses in Xinyi District (信義) and provide a boost to the local economy,” Nan Shan said.
Taipei 101’s fireworks shows led to Taipei being selected by CNN as one of the top 10 destinations in the world in which to welcome a new year.
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
UNILATERAL MOVES: Officials have raised concerns that Beijing could try to exert economic control over Kinmen in a key development plan next year The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) yesterday said that China has so far failed to provide any information about a new airport expected to open next year that is less than 10km from a Taiwanese airport, raising flight safety concerns. Xiamen Xiangan International Airport is only about 3km at its closest point from the islands in Kinmen County — the scene of on-off fighting during the Cold War — and construction work can be seen and heard clearly from the Taiwan side. In a written statement sent to Reuters, the CAA said that airports close to each other need detailed advanced
The age requirement for commercial pilots and airline transport pilots is to be lowered by two years, to 18 and 21 years respectively, to expand the pool of pilots in accordance with international standards, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications announced today. The changes are part of amendments to articles 93, 119 and 121 of the Regulations Governing Licenses and Ratings for Airmen (航空人員檢定給證管理規則). The amendments take into account age requirements for aviation personnel certification in the Convention on International Civil Aviation and EU’s aviation safety regulations, as well as the practical needs of managing aviation personnel licensing, the ministry said. The ministry
RSS