Daring Ascent: Alex Honnold Climbs Taipei 101 Without Safety Gear

Tue Feb 03 2026 01:33:12 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a stunning display of skill and bravery, American climber Alex Honnold scaled the Taipei 101 skyscraper without any safety equipment, a feat that has drawn attention from across the globe.

Alex Honnold, renowned for his rope-free climbing ventures, has achieved another remarkable feat by scaling Taiwan's Taipei 101 skyscraper. Completing the ascent in just 91 minutes, Honnold has set a new benchmark for building climbs, surpassing the previous record held by Alain Robert. Honnold's climb, streamed live on Netflix, was met with enthusiasm from onlookers and praise from Taiwan's Vice President.

American climber Alex Honnold has successfully scaled a Taiwan skyscraper without a rope, harness or safety equipment. The building, named Taipei 101 for the number of its floors, stands at 508m (1,667ft) of steel, glass and concrete and is designed to resemble a stick of bamboo.

Honnold is renowned for being the first person to climb El Capitan, the vertical granite cliff in California's Yosemite national park - also without ropes or safety gear. The climb was originally set to take place on Saturday but was delayed by wet weather. His ascent in Taiwan's capital was streamed live on Netflix, which said there would be a delay on the live feed should the worst happen.

Honnold completed the climb in one hour and 31 minutes and celebrated the achievement with one word: Sick. His time more than halves the record of the only other person to scale the tower. Alain Robert, a Frenchman who called himself Spiderman, made it to the top of Taipei 101 - at the time the world's tallest building - in four hours, using ropes and a harness.

Taiwan's Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim congratulated Honnold on the ascent, sharing how she would feel watching it. Honnold was greeted at the top of the building by his wife, who expressed concern for the wind and heat. As Honnold reached the 89th floor, fans cheered and waved, showing their excitement for the climber racing against the elements. Video shared online captured the moment, revealing Honnold’s determination despite the crowd below.

Having made numerous extreme climbs during his career, Alex Honnold’s story is further immortalized in the Academy Award-winning documentary Free Solo, which details his historic ascent of El Capitan.