Crowds Gather to Watch as Netflix Broadcasts "Free Solo Building Climb" Live

Alex Honnold Climbs Taipei 101
Reaches the Summit in 1 Hour and 31 Minutes Without Safety Equipment

World-renowned rock climber Alex Honnold (40) has successfully free solo climbed the landmark Taipei 101 building in Taiwan.

Honnold's challenge was broadcast live worldwide through the Netflix program "Skyscraper Live: Climbing the Super High-Rise." He began his ascent of Taipei 101 at 9:10 a.m. local time on the 24th. Completed in 2004, Taipei 101 stands at 508 meters and is currently the 11th tallest building in the world. Honnold reached the summit just 1 hour and 31 minutes after he started climbing.

World-renowned rock climber Alex Honnold (40) is free solo climbing the landmark Taipei 101 building in Taiwan on the 24th (local time). Photo by AP Yonhap News

Climbing the 101-story skyscraper without a rope, Honnold is known as a living legend in the field of "free solo" climbing, which involves scaling rock faces without any safety equipment. In 2017, he became the first person in history to climb the massive El Capitan rock face in Yosemite National Park, USA, without equipment, earning worldwide recognition. The documentary "Free Solo," which captured this feat, won the Best Documentary Feature at the 91st Academy Awards.

Taipei 101 building exterior. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

The exterior of Taipei 101 is made of smooth glass and steel, demanding a level of grip strength and endurance far beyond that required for natural rock faces. Previously, in 2004, Alain Robert, known as "Spiderman," climbed the building in four hours. However, Honnold shattered that record with far more precise and daring techniques, achieving a time that is almost unbelievable.

Crowds gathered around the building to watch Honnold's climb in real time. Many citizens came out with placards to cheer him on. Inside the building, numerous people filmed Honnold as he climbed, and he even took the time to wave at them. Upon safely reaching the top, Honnold celebrated his success by taking a selfie. Speaking to the Netflix broadcast team at the summit, he said, "I'm a little tired, but it was an amazing experience." Honnold used a rope to descend from the building.

This was Honnold's first time climbing a man-made structure instead of a natural rock face. Since establishing his own foundation in 2012 with his personal funds, he has been working to provide solar energy to underserved regions around the world. It is reported that he will receive approximately 900 million won for this climb.