• American rock climber Alex Honnold completed a historic free solo ascent of Taipei 101.
• The climb took 1 hour and 31 minutes and was streamed live on Netflix.
• This marks the first time anyone has scaled the skyscraper without ropes.

American rock climber Alex Honnold made a remarkable ascent of the Taipei 101 skyscraper on January 25, completing it without any ropes. The climb drew cheers from a large crowd as Honnold utilized horizontal metal beams to scale the iconic 1,667-foot structure, which is a major tourist attraction in Taiwan's capital, Taipei. His free solo ascent was broadcast live on Netflix, allowing viewers to experience the event in real time, according to channelnewsasia, cbsnews, and latimes.

The ascent took Honnold approximately 1 hour and 31 minutes, concluding with him expressing excitement and fatigue at the summit. "I'm so psyched ... And you know what, pretty tired actually," he remarked after reaching the top. He had originally planned to climb the day before, but adverse weather conditions forced a postponement, and the climb went on with a delay due to rain, reports cbsnews and latimes.

Honnold, renowned for his prior free solo ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite, faced notable challenges during the climb, particularly as he navigated the building's unique architectural features like its "bamboo boxes," which presented steep, overhanging sections. This climb also raises ethical questions regarding the live broadcast of such high-risk endeavors, highlighting the balance between thrill-seeking and safety, according to channelnewsasia, cbsnews, and latimes.