TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) – American rock climber Alex Honnold climbed the Taipei 101 skyscraper on Sunday without a rope or any protective equipment.

When they reached the top of the 508-meter (1,667-foot) tower’s spire about 90 minutes after the start, spectators on the street cheered. Honnold, wearing a red short-sleeved shirt, waved his arms back and forth above his head.

“What a view, I can’t believe it, what a beautiful day it was,” he said later. “It was so windy that I was trying not to fall off the spire. I was trying to keep my balance. But what an incredible position I was in and the view of Taipei was so beautiful.”

Honnold, known for his ropeless climb I climbed El Capitan in Yosemite National Park and climbed a section of Taipei 101 using a small L-shaped outcrop as foothold. Periodically, he had to walk around and climb the sides of large decorative structures that jutted out from the tower, pulling himself up with his bare hands.

The building has 101 floors, with the most challenging part being the 64th floor of the middle section, the “bamboo box” that gives the building its distinctive appearance. Divided into eight segments, each segment had eight floors, with a steep overhanging climb followed by a balcony where we took a short break before continuing upwards.

Honnold’s Free solo climb of iconic buildings In Taiwan’s capital, it was broadcast live on Netflix with a 10-second delay. The climb was originally scheduled for Saturday, but was delayed by 24 hours due to rain.

It was unusual to hear so many people cheering, and Honnold, who usually climbs in remote areas, was a little nervous at first.

“When I left the field, I was like, oh, it’s so intense, so many people are watching,” he said. “But to be honest, they all wish me well. So basically, the whole experience just feels almost festive. All these lovely people supporting me and making sure I have a good time.”

The climb brought excitement, but also concerns about the ethical implications of attempting such a risky endeavor on live TV.

Honnold was not the first climber to climb Taipei 101, but he was the first to do so without ropes. French rock climber Alain Robert climbed the building on Christmas Day 2004 as part of the grand opening of what was then the world’s tallest building.

___

Associated Press video journalist Taijing Wu and Beijing-based author Ken Moritsugu contributed.