American rock climber Alex Honnold made headlines on Sunday by successfully scaling the iconic Taipei 101 skyscraper without any ropes or protective gear. The daring ascent drew cheers from enthusiastic spectators gathered at street level, as Honnold reached the pinnacle of the 508-meter (1,667-foot) tower roughly 90 minutes after beginning his climb. Sporting a red short-sleeve shirt, he celebrated his achievement by waving to the crowd.
Upon completion of his climb, Honnold expressed his awe at the breathtaking view, describing the experience as “incredible” and noting the beauty of the day. He mentioned the challenges of balancing atop the spire, particularly with the strong winds, saying, “I was trying to balance nicely. But it was, what an incredible position, what a beautiful way to see Taipei.”
Honnold’s ascent involved scaling one corner of Taipei 101 using small L-shaped protrusions for footholds. The climb presented unique challenges, especially in the middle section, where the building’s design features steeply overhanging “bamboo boxes.” This segment required him to navigate around large ornamental structures, pulling himself up with his hands and taking brief rests on balconies along the way.
This remarkable feat was streamed live on Netflix with a brief 10-second delay and was initially scheduled for Saturday but postponed a day due to inclement weather. Honnold remarked on the unusual experience of climbing in front of a large crowd compared to his typical solitary climbs, stating that their support ultimately made the event feel more festive.
While Honnold is not the first climber to tackle Taipei 101—French climber Alain Robert famously ascended the building on Christmas Day in 2004—he is noted as the first to complete the climb without any safety ropes. The implications of performing such high-risk climbs in a public, live-broadcast setting have sparked discussions regarding the ethics involved in such daring endeavors.
Honnold’s successful climb serves as a testament to his remarkable skills and fearlessness, inspiring many to appreciate the beauty of urban landscapes through a new lens.