TAIPEI – Renowned American rock climber Alex Honnold captivated audiences on Sunday as he scaled the Taipei 101 skyscraper without using ropes or any safety equipment.

Enthusiastic cheers filled the air from spectators below as Honnold embarked on his daring ascent of the 508-meter (1,667-foot) tower. He adeptly climbed the iconic structure by gripping its horizontal metal beams with his bare hands.

At one point during his climb, Honnold paused and turned to acknowledge the crowd, eliciting another wave of applause. His bright red short-sleeve shirt was a vivid contrast against the building as he ascended.

The free solo climb of Taipei’s landmark was broadcast live on Netflix, with a slight 10-second delay. Originally set for Saturday, the climb was postponed by a day due to inclement weather.

While the event stirred excitement, it also sparked debate regarding the ethical considerations of broadcasting such a high-risk activity live.

Honnold, known for his ropeless ascent up Yosemite National Park’s El Capitan, climbed up one corner of Taipei 101 using small L-shaped outcroppings as footholds. Periodically, he had to maneuver around and clamber up the sides of large ornamental structures that jut out from the tower.

The building has 101 floors, with the hardest part being the 64 floors comprising the middle section — the “bamboo boxes” that give the building its signature look. Divided into eight, each segment has eight floors of steep, overhanging climbing followed by balconies, where he took short rests as he made his way upward.

Honnold isn’t the first climber to ascend the skyscraper, but he is the first to do so without a rope. French rock climber Alain Robert scaled the building on Christmas Day in 2004 as part of the grand opening of what was then the world’s tallest building.