TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Restaurants near Taipei 101 sold out New Year's Eve reservations for the annual fireworks show on Dec. 31, despite drastically increased prices. The event draws eager crowds to the city's Xinyi District (信義區), a major commercial and entertainment hub in Taiwan's capital. Several dining establishments increased prices multiple times above normal rates for the popular countdown celebration.
A 14th-floor American restaurant saw its New Year's Eve prices soar to nearly seven times the usual rate for fireworks viewing. The restaurant began accepting bookings on Sunday (Nov. 3), and all slots filled by Tuesday (Nov. 11). A barbecue restaurant at ATT 4 Fun shopping mall opened online reservations at midnight on Tuesday (Dec. 2), filling all spots in five minutes.
In the same building, a high-altitude bar's L-shaped window-side booths opened for reservations on Saturday (Nov. 30). These spots, considered the best vantage point for the fireworks, were fully booked the next day on Sunday (Dec. 1). New Year's Eve prices increased four-fold to reach NT$95,000 (around US$3,035) for the premium viewing locations.
Taipei 101 released a 30-second simulation of the fireworks, previewing a six-minute show for the upcoming celebration. Chia Yeong-chieh (賈永婕), chairperson of Taipei 101, stated that this year's display will use low-smoke fireworks from Italy. She advised that spectators must position themselves to the north or east to fully enjoy the spectacle from optimal viewing angles.