Alex Honnold Free Solos Taipei 101 in Record Climb
Netflix livestream captures historic ascent as legendary climber conquers 101-storey tower without ropes.
Legendary American climber Alex Honnold has completed a historic free solo climb of Taipei 101, scaling the 508-metre skyscraper in just 1 hour and 35 minutes without ropes or safety equipment.
The daring ascent, which saw Honnold climb all 101 storeys using only his hands and physical endurance, was livestreamed globally on Netflix, allowing viewers worldwide to follow the high-risk challenge in real time.
The Taipei 101 climb marks the first time Honnold has tackled a man-made structure of this scale, after decades spent conquering natural rock formations. Speaking to Netflix ahead of the climb, the climber said he had “spent 30 years climbing rock faces” before taking on the iconic Taiwanese landmark.
A new frontier for free solo climbing
Honnold rose to international fame in 2017 after free soloing El Capitan in Yosemite National Park — a nearly 3,000-foot vertical rock face climbed without ropes or harnesses. The feat was widely regarded as one of the greatest achievements in climbing history.
While the Taipei 101 ascent presented a different set of technical challenges, the stakes remained equally high. Honnold told Netflix that the most difficult section of the climb would be the building’s “bamboo boxes,” referring to eight identical architectural segments stacked in the middle of the tower, accounting for 64 floors.
“These sections are repetitive and physically demanding,” he explained, adding to the mental strain of navigating a vertical urban structure.
Global audience watches historic moment
Despite climbing solo, Honnold’s ascent unfolded before a massive digital audience, with the livestream capturing sweeping views of the Taipei skyline and documenting the intense physical and mental demands of the climb.
The event has been widely described as a milestone in urban climbing, blending extreme sports with global entertainment through real-time broadcasting.
Taipei 101, once the tallest building in the world, is among Asia’s most recognizable landmarks. Honnold’s successful climb now adds a new chapter to its global legacy.
With the achievement, Honnold once again pushed the limits of free solo climbing, reinforcing his reputation as one of the most daring athletes in modern adventure sports.