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Red light trails from vehicle traffic streak across a busy intersection in front of Taipei 101.

The tallest building in Taiwan, it held the "tallest" title for the world from 2004 until 2010. While nine other skyscrapers since then have surpassed it, Taipei 101 remains a stunning spectacle.

"This building is notable because it essentially stands alone as there are no towers of similar size nearby," Augustin said.

Evoking the image of a Chinese pagoda, it's built to withstand the strong earthquakes and typhoons that can hit the island.