High above the streets of Taiwan’s capital, a lone climber clinging to steel and glass captured the attention of an entire city. On Sunday, American rock climber Alex Honnold scaled the 508-metre Taipei 101 skyscraper without a rope, harness or any protective equipment, turning one of the world’s tallest buildings into an arena for an unprecedented free solo ascent.
Honnold began his climb up one corner of the tower, relying on narrow L-shaped outcroppings and ornamental ledges as footholds. Unlike his usual climbs in remote natural settings, this ascent unfolded in the middle of a dense urban landscape, with cheers rising from the streets below as he steadily moved higher.
Roughly 90 minutes after leaving the ground, Honnold reached the spire at the very top of the building. Wearing a red short-sleeved shirt, he raised his arms and waved to the crowd below, drawing loud applause from onlookers who had followed his progress from the streets.
Speaking after the climb, Honnold described the moment as surreal. He said the view was incredible but admitted the strong winds at the top demanded intense focus and balance, calling it a beautiful and unforgettable way to see the city.
The building’s distinctive design posed unique challenges during the ascent. The most demanding section came midway up, where stacked “bamboo box” segments create steep, overhanging faces. Each segment consists of eight floors of difficult climbing, interrupted by balconies where Honnold briefly stopped to rest and recover.
At several points, he had to manoeuvre around large decorative structures jutting from the façade, pulling himself upward with his bare hands. The climb was broadcast live on Netflix with a short delay and had been postponed by a day due to rain, adding to anticipation around the event.
Honnold is best known for his ropeless climb of Yosemite National Park’s El Capitan in 2017, a feat that cemented his reputation as one of the world’s most daring climbers. Performing in front of a live audience was a stark contrast to his usual solitude, and he admitted the attention felt intense at the beginning.
As he climbed past the upper floors, Honnold appeared calm and composed, even smiling and waving at onlookers. He paused occasionally to chalk his hands before committing to the next move, executing difficult transitions with controlled precision as the crowd reacted with disbelief and awe.
Reflecting on the experience later, Honnold said the presence of spectators ultimately made the climb feel more festive and supportive. He noted that the encouragement from the crowd helped ease the pressure and turned the ascent into a shared experience rather than a solitary one.
Honnold said he hoped the climb would inspire people beyond the spectacle. He explained that extreme feats often remind people that time is finite and encourage them to pursue their own goals and challenges in a meaningful way.
The climb drew praise from around the world, including from political leaders, broadcasters and fellow adventurers, who described the ascent as astonishing and praised Honnold’s skill, humility and resilience.
Although Taipei 101 has been climbed before, most notably by French climber Alain Robert in 2004 using a safety rope, Honnold’s ascent marked the first time the skyscraper was climbed completely free solo, making it the boldest climb in the building’s history.
