US climber scales Taiwan's tallest building Taipei 101 without ropes

U.S. climber Alex Honnold scaled the Taipei 101 skyscraper without ropes or safety netting on Sunday, watched by thousands of cheering and waving fans as he clambered up one of the world's tallest buildings.



"Sick," Honnold said as he got to the top spire of Taiwan's tallest building after his 91-minute "free solo" ascent, which was organised and broadcast live by Netflix.



"What a beautiful way to see Taipei," he told reporters after his mission, which was postponed by a day due to wet weather.



The 508-metre Taipei 101, which dominates the city's skyline and is a major tourist attraction, was the tallest building in the world from 2004 to 2010, a crown currently held by the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.



The climb, with no safety equipment, took place with the full support and permission of Taipei 101 and the city government.



Executive Producer James Smith said it was rare for a building to trust a climber and allow such an event to take place, calling Taipei 101 "a real icon of this country".