Taipei 101 Observatory

Despite having its 'world's tallest building' crown stolen by Dubai's Burj Khalifa and subsequently falling down the rankings, Taipei 101 is still one of the main players in the sport of very tall things.

With unobscured, panoramic views of Taiwan's capital, accessed by one of the fastest elevators in the world, there's no better way to view The City of Azaleas than from its 89th floor Observatory.

Put your map away, just look up. Taipei 101 towers above anything else in the city – just aim for the giant, glass bamboo stalk piercing the clouds.

Your journey from the 5th-floor entrance up to the observatory takes just 37 seconds. That's a speed of almost 100kph, which officially qualifies as 'really fast'.

Taipei doesn't have a skyscraping skyline like Shanghai or London, which makes the 360° view from the observatory even more magical. Gaze down at miniature-looking sites you've already visited like the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall or the Taipei Dome, and look way out to the unbroken horizon.

If the weather's kind to you, you'll be able to climb up to the outdoor viewing platform for a breezier look around – unless the breeze is too brisk. Safety first!