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PHOTO ESSAY / American climber Alex Honnold begins his free-solo ascent of Taipei 101

01/25/2026 09:40 AM
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American climber Alex Honnold scales Taipei 101 without ropes on Sunday. CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
American climber Alex Honnold scales Taipei 101 without ropes on Sunday. CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026

Taipei, Jan. 25 (CNA) U.S. climber Alex Honnold began his free-solo ascent of Taipei 101 at 9 a.m. Sunday, after the attempt was postponed from Saturday due to unfavorable weather.

Climbing without a rope, the 40-year-old “Free Solo” icon is making his way to the top of the 508-meter skyscraper, drawing large crowds of onlookers on the ground.

American climber Alex Honnold (in red) attempts a ropeless solo ascent of Taipei 101 on Sunday, waving to people inside the building as he climbs. CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
American climber Alex Honnold (in red) attempts a ropeless solo ascent of Taipei 101 on Sunday, waving to people inside the building as he climbs. CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
American climber Alex Honnold scales Taipei 101 without ropes on Sunday. He turns to wave to onlookers and fans during the ascent. CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
American climber Alex Honnold scales Taipei 101 without ropes on Sunday. He turns to wave to onlookers and fans during the ascent. CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
American climber Alex Honnold scales Taipei 101 without ropes on Sunday and waves to fans waiting below as he reaches the first exterior cloud-shaped ornament. CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
American climber Alex Honnold scales Taipei 101 without ropes on Sunday and waves to fans waiting below as he reaches the first exterior cloud-shaped ornament. CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
American climber Alex Honnold begins his free-solo ascent of Taipei 101 (Image source: Taipei Travel Live Cam YouTube page)
American climber Alex Honnold begins his free-solo ascent of Taipei 101 (Image source: Taipei Travel Live Cam YouTube page)
Fans show their support for Alex Honnold with handmade signs on Sunday. CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
Fans show their support for Alex Honnold with handmade signs on Sunday. CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
American free climber Alex Honnold waves to fans before setting off. CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
American free climber Alex Honnold waves to fans before setting off. CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
Crowds gather to watch Alex Honnold's ascent of Taipei 101 on Sunday, as police set up barricades to maintain order. CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
Crowds gather to watch Alex Honnold's ascent of Taipei 101 on Sunday, as police set up barricades to maintain order. CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
American free climber Alex Honnold (third from left), who was set to scale Taipei 101 without ropes on Sunday, scouts the site outside the plaza with his wife Sanni McCandless (right) and exchanges views with technical staff ahead of the climb. CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
American free climber Alex Honnold (third from left), who was set to scale Taipei 101 without ropes on Sunday, scouts the site outside the plaza with his wife Sanni McCandless (right) and exchanges views with technical staff ahead of the climb. CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
A large crowd gathers outside Taipei 101 to watch American free climber Alex Honnold scale Taipei 101 without ropes on Sunday. CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
A large crowd gathers outside Taipei 101 to watch American free climber Alex Honnold scale Taipei 101 without ropes on Sunday. CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
Fans show their support for Alex Honnold with placards. CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
Fans show their support for Alex Honnold with placards. CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
People arrive at Taipei 101 on Sunday with camera tripods to document Alex Honnold's ascent of Taipei 101. CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
People arrive at Taipei 101 on Sunday with camera tripods to document Alex Honnold's ascent of Taipei 101. CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026

(By Sunny Lai)

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