What happened at Taipei 101
Alex Honnold, the American climber known for free soloing, climbed Taipei 101 without a rope and reached the 508 meter summit in roughly one hour and thirty five minutes. The climb took place in front of crowds and a live stream. People on the ground cheered as he topped out on the spire. The event had been delayed by rain and went forward on Sunday under windy conditions that Honnold later said made the spire feel a little scary. This was the first documented untethered ascent of Taipei 101.
Why this climb matters
Taipei 101 is one of the most recognizable skyscrapers in Asia and was the first building to exceed 500 meters when it opened in 2004. Climbing it without a rope is a very public show of skill and nerves. Unlike many of Honnold’s previous climbs in remote spots, this one was in a major city center with many onlookers and a production crew. That changed the dynamics. He was not only facing the technical challenge of the building’s stacked design but also the pressure of an audience and a broadcast delay on the live feed.
How he climbed the building
The tower’s geometry includes stacked sections with overhangs and balcony ledges that break the vertical face into repeatable segments. Honnold used these ledges as brief rest points while he moved upward. The central part of the building provided the greatest technical challenge because of steep overhangs and exposure. He moved steadily and deliberately, taking advantage of small features and pauses to manage the wind and keep balanced on the spire.
Context from Honnold’s career
Honnold became a household name after his free solo climb of El Capitan in Yosemite and the 2018 documentary that followed. That ascent proved he could do long, dangerous climbs without protective gear. Taipei 101 is different from natural rock but similar in one key way. Success depends on calm judgment, route knowledge, and physical control. Other climbers, like Alain Robert, have climbed Taipei 101 with ropes, but this marks a new milestone because Honnold did it untethered.
Public reaction and broadcast
Crowds gathered below and cheered when he reached the top. Netflix streamed the climb with a short delay. Honnold said the presence of supportive onlookers made the experience feel festive rather than intimidating. Social media posts and video clips circulated quickly after the climb, showing both the methodical movement up the building and the view from the top. The climb reinforced Honnold’s reputation for pushing personal limits in highly visible ways.
ALEX HONNOLD AFTER COMPLETING HIS FREE SOLO OF TAIPEI 101: "Sick."
The 101 story climb took 1 hour and 35 minutes #SkyscraperLIVE pic.twitter.com/TIzeRqiUcM
— Netflix (@netflix) January 25, 2026
awesome! Taipei 101 pic.twitter.com/hOXgQnriMb
— Otto Huang (@OttoHuang120) January 25, 2026
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