SHANGHAI, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai police has detained a daring Frenchman who climbed up the outside of the soaring Jinmao Tower, or Grand Hyatt Hotel Shanghai, the highest building in the city, according to sources with the municipal public security bureau.

The 44-year-old French daredevil attracted thousands of spectators and stopped traffic. A traffic jam ensued as people gathered and vehicles came to a halt and the 88th floor sightseeing hall had to be closed.

Clad in a Spiderman costume, Alain Robert -- who only weighs 50kg -- entered the Jinmao Tower at about 2:30 p.m. Thursday, and started to climb from Gate No.6. Managers of the tower had not been forewarned of the stunt.

To the astonishment of onlookers, he climbed right up to the 88th story before descending to the platform of the second storey where waiting police arrested him and escorted him to the police station.

Robert is well-known for his exploits. In 1996, he climbed the Far East Finance Center in Hong Kong. According to media reports, it took him only 25 minutes to scale the 48 stories of the tower. In 1998 he annoyed Japanese police by climbing the Sinjuku Center Building in Tokyo. In another exploit in 1999, he climbed the 443-meter high Sears Tower in Chicago.

Robert, who came to China on May 27, was expecting police to be waiting for him after his latest stunt. He was not disappointed. Sources say he will be held for five days, according to Chinese law, and that his stay in China will probably be curtailed.