TAIPEI (TVBS News) — American rock climbing legend Alex Honnold departed Taiwan Monday (Jan. 26) after making history as the first person to free solo Taipei 101 (台北101), the island's tallest skyscraper. Honnold left the Grand Hyatt Taipei (台北君悅酒店) at 8:10 a.m., heading to Taoyuan Airport (桃園機場) for his 11:10 a.m. United Airlines flight UA872 to San Francisco. He greeted reporters with a smile and posed for photos with fans before his departure.
Honnold completed the unprecedented ascent of the 508-meter (1,667-foot) tower on Sunday in 91 minutes, climbing without ropes or safety equipment. CNN hailed Honnold as the "world's first" to accomplish the feat and featured the Republic of China flag, Taiwan's national flag, encircling Taipei 101 on its homepage. The global media coverage brought significant international attention to Taiwan and its iconic landmark.
Netflix announced the free solo attempt in 2025, with Honnold conducting his first practice run in October. Rain forced the climb's postponement from Saturday to Sunday (Jan. 24-25). Taipei 101 Chairwoman Chia Yong-chieh (賈永婕) climbed to the building's highest point on Tuesday (Jan. 14) to promote the event and address critics. She emphasized the courage required to "leave this historic moment in Taiwan." ◼