Taipei, Taiwan (4/1/2018) – In a press conference held earlier today, Taiwan Minister of Unspecified Services Kai Wan-xiao announced that Taiwan’s landmark Taipei 101 building would be sent on a year-long, multi-nation tour beginning this month.
“As Taiwan increases its presence on the world tourism stage, many around the globe have expressed a desire to experience Taiwan,” said the Minister. “Sadly, for reasons of time and money, not everyone can make the trip. So we have decided to bring Taiwan to the world!”
The 509.2 meter tower, which held the title of world’s tallest building from 2004 until 2010, will be disassembled and shipped by plane to Vatican City, the first destination on its tour in mid-June. Once in the Holy See, Taipei 101 will be re-assembled on top of a five-story pit dug to hold the structure’s underground mall, while the 3600+ Taiwanese nationals employed in shops, restaurants and other service industries throughout the building will continue working as part of an employment agreement made with host nations.
“This is a key part of the arrangement,” said Minister Kai. “For visitors visiting the visiting building, it is important that they are not merely able to enjoy their own local landscape from Taipei 101’s observation deck, but also that they can indulge in the many other experiences offered inside the building, including world-class shopping and Taiwan’s excellent cuisine.”
Minister Kai added that he was especially grateful for the willingness of all host nations to offer fast-track work permits to every Taipei 101 employee.
“Owing to the brief nature of Taipei 101’s visit to each location, the idea that local chefs could be taught to prepare items such as Din Tai Fung’s world-famous dumplings on such short notice is obviously ridiculous,” said the Minister.
Following its April visit to Vatican City – which will feature a simultaneous consecration prayer and traditional Easter Mass delivered by Pope Francis from the 85th floor observation deck – Taipei 101 will be shipped to Central America where it will spend the summer traveling between Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador.
Perhaps the most important part of Taipei 101’s journey will come in the Autumn, which the tower will spend time traveling between several yet-to-be-announced destinations in the United States.
“The American leg of Taipei 101’s tour is of course quite important, and we are hoping to build on the goodwill created by the recent signing of the landmark Taiwan Travel Act,” said Minister Kai.
The Minister added that he hoped that the Taipei 101’s trip would be the first of many international goodwill trips made by popular Taiwanese tourist areas and that plans were already in the works to send the National Palace Museum, Sun Moon Lake, and the entire city of Kaohsiung on similar tours in the future.
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Please note that for the remainder of 2018 “Visit to Taipei 101” will be replaced by “Climb up the side of Core Pacific City” on all Taipei City Tours.
Read more:
Running Up 101: The Ultimate Taipei Experience
A Perfect Day in Taipei’s Xinyi District
6 things to do in Taipei that should be on every visitor’s bucket list
