US climber Alex Honnold free-solos Taipei 101 without any gears | WATCH

American rock climber Alex Honnold on Sunday completed a free solo climb of Taipei 101, scaling the 508-metre skyscraper without ropes, harnesses or safety equipment, drawing stunned reactions from onlookers and viewers around the world.

Honnold began his ascent up on the eleventh tallest building in the world from one corner of the tower, using narrow L-shaped architectural outcroppings and ornamental ledges as footholds. Unlike his earlier climbs in remote natural settings, this climb unfolded in the middle of Taipei’s business district, with crowds gathering below and cheering as he moved steadily upward.

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After 1 hour 31 minutes, Honnold reached the spire at the top of the 101-storey building, raised his arms and waved to the crowd below and later even took a selfie.

“It was very windy, so I was thinking, don’t fall off the spire,” Honnold said later, according to Associated Press. “But it was an incredible position, a beautiful way to see Taipei.”

The most difficult section

Taipei 101’s distinctive “bamboo” design posed specific challenges for the climber. The hardest stretch came midway up the building, where stacked segments form steep, overhanging surfaces. Each segment spans eight floors, broken only by balconies where Honnold briefly paused.

He even smiled and waved at the amazed onlookers at the 89th floor, like it was just another day at the work, where he meets people exchanging easy smiles along the way.

At several points, he had to manoeuvre around large decorative structures projecting from the façade, relying solely on grip strength and balance. The climb was broadcast live on Netflix with a short delay and had been postponed by a day due to rain.

Honnold, 40, acknowledged that climbing before a live audience was unfamiliar. “At the beginning, it feels intense with so many people watching,” he said, adding that the crowd’s reaction eventually felt encouraging.

Clips of his wife congratulating him at the top of Taipei 101 is also going viral.

Honnold is best known for his ropeless ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park in 2017, a climb documented in the Oscar-winning film Free Solo. That achievement cemented his reputation as one of the most daring climbers of his generation. Speaking later at a news conference, he said he hoped the Taipei 101 climb would be remembered for more than its spectacle.

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Reactions from around the world

Taiwan’s President praised the climb in a social media post, calling it a moment watched “with racing hearts” and thanking Honnold for showcasing Taiwan to a global audience.

British broadcaster Piers Morgan described the ascent as “astonishing”, while adventurer Bear Grylls congratulated Honnold, calling him “a legend”.

Not the first climb, but the boldest

Taipei 101 has been climbed before. In 2004, French climber Alain Robert, known as “Spiderman”, scaled the tower using safety ropes during its opening celebrations.

Honnold’s ascent, however, marked the first complete free solo climb of the skyscraper.