American rock climber Alex Honnold successfully scaled the Taipei 101 skyscraper on Sunday without any safety ropes or gear, drawing cheers from spectators who gathered to witness the daring feat. Honnold’s ascent up the 508-meter tower involved using metal beams to hoist himself up, with moments where he paused to acknowledge the crowd while clad in a distinctive red shirt.
The climb was broadcasted live on Netflix with a brief delay, originally scheduled for Saturday but postponed by 24 hours due to rainy weather conditions. While the event generated both excitement and ethical concerns regarding the risks involved in live broadcasting such a high-stakes endeavor, Honnold’s reputation for fearless climbs, including his historic ropeless ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, added to the intrigue of his Taipei 101 ascent.
During the climb, Honnold navigated the building’s challenging architecture, which includes 101 floors and features like the “bamboo boxes” that posed significant obstacles. Climbing up one corner of the skyscraper, he utilized small outcroppings as footholds and negotiated around ornamental structures protruding from the tower. Honnold’s achievement marked a unique milestone, as he became the first climber to conquer Taipei 101 without the use of safety ropes, following in the footsteps of French climber Alain Robert, who scaled the building in 2004 using traditional climbing equipment.