American rock climber Alex Honnold successfully climbed the towering Taipei 101 skyscraper on Sunday, showcasing his remarkable skill by scaling the 508-meter structure without any safety ropes or gear. Spectators cheered as Honnold navigated the metal beams with his bare hands, making his way up the building. At one point during the climb, he paused to face the crowd, clad in a distinctive red shirt that stood out against the backdrop of the city.
The daring feat was broadcasted live on Netflix with a brief delay of 10 seconds, after being postponed for 24 hours due to rainy weather. Honnold’s ascent of the iconic Taipei landmark sparked a mix of excitement and ethical concerns regarding the risks involved in such a high-stakes endeavor being shown on live television.
Renowned for his previous ropeless ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, Honnold tackled the Taipei 101 by leveraging small outcroppings as footholds and maneuvering around ornamental structures protruding from the tower. The building’s 101 floors presented varying challenges, with the most arduous section being the 64 floors of the middle portion, known as the “bamboo boxes.” These segments comprised steep climbing followed by balconies where Honnold took brief breaks as he steadily progressed upward.
While Honnold was not the first climber to conquer Taipei 101, he distinguished himself by accomplishing the feat without the use of safety ropes. In contrast, French rock climber Alain Robert had scaled the skyscraper on Christmas Day in 2004 as part of the building’s grand opening celebration when it held the title of the world’s tallest structure.