American free solo climbing legend Alex Honnold recently succeeded in scaling Taipei 101 in 91 minutes, shocking the world. Recently, cases of locals attempting to imitate the climb have emerged across Taiwan, and dangerous footage circulating online has raised major public safety concerns among all sectors of society.
Many videos circulating online recently show numerous individuals attempting to mimic Honnold's climb up Taipei 101. In one instance, a burly man in a black tank top is seen free soloing the exterior wall of Taipei 101 and, in a short amount of time, reaches nearly the height of the second floor—an incredibly risky scene.
Security personnel intervened in time to stop the incident before any accidents occurred. After the footage was released, it quickly sparked heated discussion. Many netizens criticized such behavior as extremely dangerous, emphasizing that extreme sports require long-term professional training and that the average person faces extraordinarily high risks if they attempt to copy them recklessly.
In response, Chia Yung-Chieh—the driving force behind the event and current chairperson of Taipei 101—once again spoke out on social media, stressing that professional extreme sports are not something everyone can attempt and urging the public not to imitate the climbing behavior.
In response, Chia Yung-Chieh—the driving force behind the event and current chairperson of Taipei 101—once again spoke out on social media, stressing that professional extreme sports are not something everyone can attempt and urging the public not to imitate the climbing behavior.
Faced with the recent trend of imitation, Chia Yung-Chieh adopted a more serious tone, stating bluntly that she hopes citizens will 'give up the idea of climbing 101 altogether.' She emphasized that such actions are not only dangerous but also pose a threat to the building's structure and public safety.
“This is not a cool act, and it is certainly not something to be encouraged.”
At present, Taipei 101 has cordoned off the area where Honnold began his ascent and strengthened patrols and controls. The management reiterates that the public should admire the beauty of the building from afar, not riskily undertake climbs. Safety and public order must always take priority.