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China Lifts Ban on French Spidey

Daredevil returns, only months after being banned from the country

By Sam Gale Rosen, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 13, 2007 7:22 PM CST

(Newser) – Only a few months after China booted out French daredevil Alain Robert for illegally climbing Shangai's tallest building, the communist superpower has invited him back. Robert, known as the French Spider-Man for scaling tall structures without safety gear, was expelled for five years and spent some quality time in jail, but will return to ascend a Chinese mountain as part of a scheme to bring in tourists.

Robert was invited to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park by local officials, who initially didn't know that he had been expelled. This time, Robert says, he'll keep his mitts off other structures in the interest of staying out of trouble. The climber has also scaled the Taipei 101, the Empire State Building, and the Eiffel Tower, the AP reports.

[Images (7)]

[Videos (1)]

Self-proclaimed "French Spiderman" Alain Robert, gives a thumbs up as he scales unaided the 88-storey Jin Mao Tower, China's tallest building, in Shanghai, China, Thursday, May 31 2007. Robert is known... (Associated Press)

Police officers escort French climber Alain Robert, known as 'Spider-Man,' who was detained after climbing a 264-yard skyscraper in Moscow, Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2007. (AP Photo / Mikhail Kryukov) (Associated Press)

Police officers escort French climber Alain Robert, known as 'Spider-Man,' who was detained after climbing a 264-yard tall skyscraper in Moscow, Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2007. (AP Photo/Mikhail Kryukov) (Associated Press)

Self-proclaimed "French Spider-Man" Alain Robert, gives a thumbs up as he scales unaided the 88-story Jin Mao Tower, China's tallest building, in Shanghai, China, Thursday, May 31, 2007. Robert is known... (Associated Press)

French urban climber Alain Robert climbs beside the 190 meter high south pillar of Lisbon's April 25th bridge that spans the Tagus river Monday, Aug. 6, 2007, in Lisbon Portugal. Robert was later detained... (Associated Press)

Alain Robert, dubbed the French Spiderman, reacts as he scales, without climbing gear, the 88-storey Jin Mao Tower, China's tallest building, in Shanghai, China, in this May 31 2007 file photo. (AP Photo/Color... (Associated Press)

French climber Alain Robert, known as 'Spiderman,' climbs a 242-meter (264-yards) tall skyscraper in Moscow, Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2007. (AP Photo/Sergey Ponomarev) (Associated Press)

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China Lifts Ban on French Spidey