Taipei 101 chair quashes calls for opening tower to climbing

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Following Alex Honnold’s free-solo ascent of Taipei 101 and emerging copycat attempts, Chair Janet Chia (賈永婕) said similar climbs will not be permitted due to safety concerns.

Chia also said it is not feasible to open the spire to tourists. She said that this is not something that can be easily implemented.

Chia added that Taipei 101 offers its Skyline 460 observation deck to visitors, providing a high-altitude experience that is not much different. “Climbing it is something no ordinary person could ever complete,” she commented. “Climbing 101 ends here.” 

However, when pressed if movie star Tom Cruise wanted to film there, she conceded, “If Tom Cruise wants to film a movie, that is fine,”.

She said the building’s increased international exposure will likely attract many foreign tourists. She also predicted this would benefit Taipei and Taiwan’s tourism industry.

Since Honnold’s climb, some copycat attempts have emerged, with members of the public secretly climbing near his starting point. Taipei 101 has urged people not to attempt such dangerous acts. 

Chia said that many other creative proposals for Taipei 101 have been proposed, such as installing public art, and these can be discussed. However, there are image and likeness rights issues that require Honnold's consent, and no plans have been made so far.

In related news, an online commentator designed a miniature version of Taipei 101 using AI and suggested installing a mini 101 at the building for the public to climb. Chia said the AI-generated model was cute but when she imagined children climbing on it, her “Asian mom instincts” immediately kicked in.

She felt it was too dangerous and said she would not consider the proposal.