American climber Alex Honnold has delivered another heart‑stopping display of free solo climbing, scaling Taiwan’s Taipei 101 skyscraper without a single rope or shred of protective gear. The 40‑year‑old adventurer set off from street level as thousands watched on, gripping the building’s metal beams with nothing but his hands and shoes. He reached the top in just over 90 minutes, completing one of his most dramatic urban climbs to date.
Taipei 101, once the tallest building in the world, towers 508 metres above the city. Its sleek exterior is hardly designed for human hands, yet Honnold pieced together a vertical route up the façade, relying on tiny ledges and the building’s narrow horizontal features. As crowds gathered below, bursts of cheering followed his progress up the glass and steel tower. Local media captured the moment he pulled himself over the final section, pausing to wave before stepping onto the rooftop platform.
The moment echoed the calm focus Honnold is known for, a trademark shown in his past climbs across some of the world’s toughest natural rock faces. Although Taipei 101 is a far cry from a granite cliff, the risk was no less severe. Free soloing removes all backup, leaving no room for error, and this climb was broadcast live across several global networks, adding another layer of intensity.
While the feat turned heads worldwide, it also sparked renewed conversation about the razor‑thin margin between discipline and danger in the sport. Emergency services were on standby throughout the climb, although they never had to intervene. A mix of relief and awe swept the crowd when Honnold finally stood atop the spire, ending what many described as the most gripping 90 minutes they had ever witnessed.
For now, Honnold has not confirmed whether this marks the start of a series of urban climbs, but if the reaction in Taiwan is anything to go by, there’s no shortage of appetite for more high‑altitude moments from the world’s most recognised free‑solo climber.
