By DPA,
Taipei : Taipei, inspired by artificial beaches in European cities including Paris, announced plans Tuesday to build a small sand beach at the foot of the Taipei 101 skyscraper.
The beach, financed by the city government, will be built at a small square at the foot of the world’s tallest finished building and open June 25, city official Sheng Chih-jen said.
“People are not making much use of the square. We hope the artificial sand beach can become a spot for people to sunbathe and relax,” he said.
The beach, just over 400 square metres, will have chairs and umbrellas and will be lit up in the evening.
Sheng said workers would cover up the beach with canvas if there were a danger the sand would be blown away during the typhoon season.
Taiwan lacks good beaches as the island rises steeply out the sea. The nearest sand beach to Taipei is the Shalun Beach at Tamsui, which is often unpleasantly littered and is an hour’s drive away.