Taipei: An American man captured global attention by successfully climbing Taipei 101, Taiwan's tallest building, using only his bare hands. Amidst cheers from onlookers below, this remarkable feat was live-streamed on various global platforms.

According to Thai News Agency, Alex Honnold, a 40-year-old climber from Sacramento, California, completed the ascent of the 508-meter-tall skyscraper in 91 minutes, entirely unaided by safety ropes or nets. His climb, initially delayed due to inclement weather, was fully sanctioned by both the building's owner and Taipei city authorities. Enthusiastic crowds gathered to support him, both at the building's base and inside.

Mr. Honnold, who rose to prominence after free-climbing El Capitan in Yosemite National Park in 2017, initially considered undertaking the climb without official approval. However, he opted for a sanctioned ascent after receiving considerable support. James Smith, the producer managing the live broadcast on Netflix, highlighted the rarity of such backing from a building for a climbing endeavor.

Taiwanese politicians expressed gratitude on social media, appreciating the attention brought to Taiwan by Honnold and Netflix from a unique angle, beyond its typical reputation for semiconductors or geopolitical tensions with China.

Taipei 101, once the world's tallest building from 2004 until surpassed by the Burj Khalifa in Dubai in 2009, has a history of being a climber's challenge. French climber Alain Robert, known as "Spider-Man," scaled the building on December 25, 2004, using safety ropes, completing his climb in four hours just before its official opening.