Taipei 101 turns into a viral climbing spot as Taiwan locals try Alex Honnold’s impressive feat, fans say 'this is why he is a legend'

When Alex Honnold free soloed Taipei 101, the world watched in disbelief. The American climber scaled the 1,667 foot tower without ropes, harness, or safety gear and reached the spire in just over 90 minutes. The moment was streamed live and quickly became one of the most talked about climbing feats in recent years.

But what happened after he came down was just as fascinating. Inspired by the climb, locals and visitors in Taiwan began trying to copy his starting moves at the base of the building. The results were immediate, humbling, and strangely entertaining for everyone watching nearby.

Honnold is no stranger to extreme ascents. His ropeless climb of El Capitan made him a global name. Taipei 101, however, was a very different challenge. Glass, steel, wind, heat, and urban distractions replaced natural rock. He began from a metal curtain wall corner near the ground floor and slowly worked his way up the massive exterior. He later said the hardest part was adjusting to the greasy surface and changing texture of the building. Once he found a rhythm, he focused only on the next move. When he finally reached the top, he looked over the city and simply said, “Sick.”

What caught people’s attention was not just the height but the first few moves. The starting section is visible from the ground. It looks almost reachable. A sharp corner. A few holds. A place where hands and feet seem like they might fit.

That illusion is what pulled people in. Soon after the event, videos began circulating online of people walking up to the same spot and attempting to grip the structure the way Honnold did. Some managed to lift themselves a few feet. Most quickly realised how unforgiving the surface was. Reports say the highest anyone got was roughly ten feet before stopping or slipping back down.

Climbing a skyscraper is not like climbing a wall at the gym. The metal is smooth. The edges are thin. There is no chalk, no planned route, and no safety. Even the steel plate above the starting point has reportedly been slightly bent by repeated attempts from curious imitators. What looked simple on a live stream suddenly felt impossible in real life.People who tried it often stepped away laughing at themselves, shaking their hands, and admitting they had badly underestimated what Honnold had done.

The internet quickly picked up on this strange aftermath. One user on X said, “From El Capitan to ten feet up Taipei 101. The inspiration is real but gravity is stronger.” One user on X said, “This is why he is a legend. We cannot even do the first move safely.” One user on Reddit said, “Please do not try this. He trains for years. We just watched a stream and thought it looked easy.” Another user on X joked, “They should build a training wall that copies the bottom corner so people can try without risking their lives.”

For many in Taiwan, the climb brought fresh attention to a building that is already a national symbol. There was pride that Taipei 101 hosted such a historic moment. There was also a sense of humour about the copy attempts happening at the base.

At the same time, safety concerns began to grow. Security teams and onlookers started discouraging people from trying to climb even a few feet. What began as admiration was slowly turning into a risky trend.