Climber scales in the US Taipei 101, the tallest structure in Taiwan without ropes

U.S. climber Alex Honnold ascended the Taipei 101 skyscraper without ropes or safety netting on Sunday, drawing the attention of thousands of cheering fans as he navigated one of the tallest buildings in the world. “Sick,” Honnold exclaimed upon reaching the top spire of Taiwan’s tallest building after his 91-minute “free solo” climb, which was organized and broadcast live by Netflix. “What a beautiful way to see Taipei,” he shared with reporters following his endeavor, which had been delayed by a day due to inclement weather.

Taipei 101, standing at 508 metres (1,667 feet), commands the city’s skyline and serves as a significant tourist destination. It held the title of the tallest building in the world from 2004 to 2010, a title now held by the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

The ascent, conducted without safety gear, occurred with the complete backing and authorization of Taipei 101 and the municipal government.

Honnold mentioned that he had previously considered climbing the structure without obtaining permission.

Climber Alex Honnold free soloing Taipei 101 Skyscraper “But then, out of respect for the building and for all the individuals on the team who had granted me access to examine it, I thought, well, clearly I’m not going to take this opportunity for myself; I will honor the people involved and simply see if it ever aligns.”

Executive Producer James Smith remarked on the rarity of a building trusting a climber to permit such an event, describing Taipei 101 as “a true icon of this country”.

Taiwanese politicians utilized social media to express gratitude to Honnold and Netflix for showcasing Taiwan—typically recognized for its semiconductor industry or Chinese military concerns—in a fresh light on the global stage. “Congratulations to the brave, fearless Alex for completing the challenge,” President Lai Ching-te posted on his Facebook page.

“With Netflix’s live broadcast cameras, viewers experienced not only Taipei 101 but also the warmth and passion of the Taiwanese people, along with the stunning hills and scenery of this beautiful land,” he added.
Taipei 101 has been scaled before.

In 2004, French climber Alain Robert, known as “Spiderman” for his ropeless ascents of some of the world’s tallest skyscrapers, climbed the building using a safety rope, completing the feat in four hours.