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Climber Alex Honnold completes rope-free ascent of Taipei 101
skyscraper

   The Associated Press | Posted: January 25, 2026 3:03 AM | Last
   Updated: 8 hours ago

   The American climber is the first to summit the 508-metre tower
   without a rope

   Image | TAIWAN-CLIMBING/

   Caption: Climber Alex Honnold's rope-free ascent of the Taipei
   101 Skyscraper in Taipei, Taiwan, on Sunday. (Ann Wang/Reuters)
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   American rock climber Alex Honnold made it to the top of the
   Taipei 101 skyscraper on Sunday without any ropes or protective
   equipment.
   Cheers erupted from a gathered crowd as he started climbing the
   508-metre tower, using the horizontal metal beams to pull
   himself up with his bare hands.
   The onlookers cheered again when he paused at one point and
   turned around to face them, in a red short-sleeve shirt that
   stood out as he made the climb.
     * This climber plans to scale a skyscraper on live TV. Should
       we want to watch him risk his life?

     * Rainy weather delays Alex Honnold's Taipei 101 skyscraper
       climb by 24 hours

   Honnold's free solo climb of the iconic building in Taiwan's
   capital city was broadcasted live on Netflix with a 10-second
   delay. The ascent, originally scheduled for Saturday, was
   delayed for 24 hours due to rain.
   The climb drew both excitement and concern over the ethical
   implications of attempting such a high-risk endeavor on live
   broadcast.

   Image | TAIWAN-CLIMBING/

   Caption: (Ann Wang/Reuters)
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   Honnold, known for his ropeless ascent up Yosemite National
   Park's El Capitan, climbed up one corner of Taipei 101 using
   small L-shaped outcroppings as footholds. Periodically, he had
   to maneuver around and clamber up the sides of large ornamental
   structures that jut out from the tower.
   The building has 101 floors, with the hardest part being the 64
   floors comprising the middle section — the "bamboo boxes" that
   give the building its signature look. Divided into eight, each
   segment has eight floors of steep, overhanging climbing
   followed by balconies, where he was taking short rests as he
   made his way upward.

   Image | TAIWAN-CLIMBING/

   Caption: (Ann Wang/Reuters)
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   Honnold wasn't the first climber to ascend the skyscraper, but
   is the first to do so without a rope. French rock climber Alain
   Robert scaled the building on Christmas Day in 2004 as part of
   the grand opening of what was then the world's tallest
   building.

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