The Climb
Alex Honnold, the climber known for walking cliff faces without a rope, reached the top of Taipei 101 in roughly 1 hour and 35 minutes. He moved up the building using ledges and balcony sections as brief rests. Honnold said it felt windy and he was careful near the spire. The ascent was ropeless and public, not the solitary rock climbs that made him famous.
About Taipei 101
Taipei 101 is a 508 meter building with 101 floors, completed in 2004. Its stacked design is often called bamboo boxes. The central segments have steep overhangs and short balconies that make the climb technically tricky. The tower was the first building to go past 500 meters when it opened. It is a landmark and a lot less forgiving than a natural cliff face.
Crowd, Stream, and PR
The climb happened in front of an audience and was streamed live with a 10 second delay. Crowds on the ground cheered when he reached the top. Netflix carried the stream and the event looked part show, part athletic feat. When stunts go public, they also become media products. That matters for how the climb is planned and marketed.
Why This Matters
This was the first ropeless ascent of Taipei 101. Other climbers, including Alain Robert, have climbed the tower with ropes. A public, rope-free climb raises questions beyond admiration. It tests rules about public safety, permits, and how corporations turn risk into programming. The spectacle draws attention. It also prompts officials and building managers to think about liability.
Safety, Rules, and Copycats
A stunt like this leaves officials with homework. Who authorized access to the facade and who stood by with emergency plans? Streaming and sponsorship can change incentives. When climbing goes from remote cliffs to city landmarks, the chance of copycats rises. That is a policy problem, not a personality one. If you like the feat, you can admire the skill and still ask the hard questions about oversight.
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