American rock climber Alex Honnold successfully climbed the Taipei 101 skyscraper on Sunday, scaling the 508-meter tower without using any ropes or safety gear. Spectators cheered as he ascended the building, relying on the horizontal metal beams to pull himself up by hand.
During the climb, Honnold attracted attention when he paused and turned to face the crowd, sporting a distinctive red short-sleeve shirt. The daring ascent was broadcast live on Netflix with a brief delay, after being postponed for 24 hours due to inclement weather.
While the climb generated excitement, it also sparked discussions about the ethics of undertaking such a high-risk feat during a live broadcast. Honnold, renowned for his ropeless climb up El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, navigated the Taipei 101 using small L-shaped outcroppings as footholds and maneuvering around ornamental structures protruding from the tower.
The skyscraper, comprising 101 floors, presented challenges, with the most difficult section being the 64 floors in the middle known as the “bamboo boxes.” Honnold tackled the steep, overhanging climbing segments followed by balconies for brief rests as he progressed upward.
Although Honnold was not the first climber to ascend the skyscraper, he distinguished himself by achieving the feat without a safety rope. French climber Alain Robert had previously climbed the building on Christmas Day in 2004 as part of its grand opening celebration.
