American Rock Climber Alex Honnold Reaches Top of Taipei 101 Without Ropes
TAIPEI, Taiwan — American rock climber Alex Honnold completed a breathtaking rope-free ascent of Taipei 101 on Sunday, scaling one of the world’s tallest skyscrapers without any protective equipment and drawing cheers from crowds gathered below.
Honnold reached the top of the 508-meter (1,667-foot) tower after roughly 90 minutes of climbing, waving triumphantly from the spire as spectators erupted in applause. Wearing a red short-sleeve shirt and gripping the building with bare hands, the climber paused briefly at the summit to take in the view of Taiwan’s capital.
“It was incredible — what a beautiful day and what a view,” Honnold said after completing the climb. “It was very windy up there, so I was really focused on balancing and staying calm. But it’s an amazing way to see Taipei.”
Best known for his 2017 free solo ascent of Yosemite National Park’s El Capitan — a feat documented in the Academy Award–winning film Free Solo — Honnold is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished and disciplined climbers in the world. His climb of Taipei 101 marked the first time the skyscraper has been scaled without ropes.
A Vertical Test of Precision and Endurance
Honnold began his ascent at street level, climbing one corner of the building using small L-shaped exterior features as footholds. The climb required careful navigation around large ornamental structures that protrude from the tower’s facade, forcing him to maneuver laterally and pull himself upward with precision.
Taipei 101 is made up of 101 floors divided into eight stacked segments, often referred to as “bamboo boxes” due to their symbolic design. According to Honnold, the most challenging portion was the middle section, where steep, overhanging surfaces left little margin for error.
Each segment consists of eight floors, with overhanging sections followed by narrow balcony-like ledges. These ledges offered brief moments of rest, though the climber spent most of the ascent fully exposed to height and wind.
Despite his experience on remote cliffs and mountain faces, Honnold said the urban setting added a different kind of pressure.
“When I first left the ground, it felt intense because there were so many people watching,” he said. “But the crowd was supportive. Everyone was wishing me well, and eventually it felt almost festive.”
Live Broadcast and Public Reaction
The climb was broadcast live on Netflix with a short delay, drawing viewers from around the world. Originally scheduled for Saturday, the ascent was postponed by 24 hours due to rain, which would have made the building’s surface dangerously slick.
Crowds gathered near the base of Taipei 101 throughout the climb, watching Honnold inch his way higher as cheers rose from below. While many praised the achievement as extraordinary, others voiced concern about the ethical implications of broadcasting such a high-risk endeavor live.
Honnold has long defended free solo climbing as a deeply personal discipline rooted in preparation and risk assessment, rather than recklessness. He has repeatedly emphasized that he only attempts climbs he feels fully confident completing.
A First for Taipei 101
Although Taipei 101 has been climbed before, Honnold is the first person to do so without a rope. French climber Alain Robert scaled the building on Christmas Day in 2004 using ropes as part of promotional events marking the tower’s opening. At the time, Taipei 101 held the title of the world’s tallest building.
Honnold’s ascent adds another chapter to the skyscraper’s history, transforming the iconic landmark into the backdrop for one of the most daring urban climbs ever attempted.
As the climber descended and crowds slowly dispersed, Taipei 101 stood unchanged — but for many watching, the building had become a symbol of human endurance and calculated courage.
Associated Press video journalist Taijing Wu and writer Ken Moritsugu in Beijing contributed reporting.
