American rock climber Alex Honnold successfully climbed the Taipei 101 skyscraper on Sunday without any safety ropes or gear, eliciting cheers from spectators. The 508-meter ascent, broadcasted live on Netflix with a 10-second delay, had been postponed by a day due to rainy weather.
Honnold’s daring feat, reminiscent of his ropeless climb up El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, saw him using metal beams and small footholds on one corner of the iconic building. Negotiating ornamental structures and the challenging “bamboo boxes” section, he strategically navigated the 101-floor skyscraper.
While Honnold was not the first climber to scale the Taipei 101, he distinguished himself as the first to accomplish the feat without safety equipment. French climber Alain Robert had previously climbed the building in 2004. The climb sparked discussions on the risks and ethics of such high-stakes endeavors, drawing a mix of excitement and concern from viewers.