Climber conquers Taiwan’s tallest skyscraper

Photo: Instagram.com/sportmarafon, photo editor: Serikzhan Kovlanbayev

American rock climber Alex Honnold climbed to the very top of the 101-story skyscraper — Taipei 101 in Taiwan — without a harness.

It took Honnold 91 minutes to ascend from the ground to the peak of the building. According to the BBC, the only other person to climb the tower before Honnold was Frenchman Alain Robert, who did so in 2004 using safety gear.

The ascent was broadcast live on Netflix. On his way up, Honnold greeted people inside, who in turn took photos of him. The tower houses offices of international companies as well as the Taiwan Stock Exchange Corporation.

Taipei 101 is over 509 meters tall and, after its completion in 2003, became the world’s first skyscraper to exceed the 500-meter mark. Until 2008, the tower held the record as the tallest building in the world.

Photo: Shutterstock, photo editor: Serikzhan Kovlanbayev

The building consists of a lower section that houses retail shops and restaurants, a middle section with offices, and upper levels with observation platforms. The stage considered most dangerous for a climber begins at the 64th floor. These so-called «bamboo boxes» give the skyscraper its distinctive appearance.

Taipei 101 features double-decker elevators capable of traveling at 60 kilometers per hour. It takes 39 seconds to travel from the 5th to the 89th floor.