TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Two historic swimming competitions will revive memories of Cold War tensions while promoting athletic tourism in one of Taiwan's most geopolitically significant outlying islands. Kinmen County's Deputy Magistrate revealed Monday (April 28) that the upcoming Kinmen Swimming (金門海上長泳) and the Swim Across Kinmen-Xiamen Strait (金廈泳渡公開賽) events will provide participants with a unique opportunity to experience the island's complex military history and strategic importance just miles from China's coastline.
Officials have scheduled the 13th Swim Across Kinmen-Xiamen Strait for July 26, a rare cross-strait athletic event that traverses waters once heavily militarized during decades of tension between Taiwan and China. Participants will navigate a challenging 7,000-meter route in two-person relay teams, beginning at Yefengzhai (椰風寨) in Xiamen (廈門), a major city in China's Fujian Province, before crossing to Shuangkou Beach (雙口海灘) in Kinmen. The following day will feature the 22nd annual Kinmen Swimming competition with both competitive timed 1,000-meter races and more accessible leisure options of either 1,000 or 2,000 meters to accommodate swimmers of different abilities.
Kinmen County's Deputy Magistrate Li Wen-liang (李文良) highlighted the remarkable evolution of the island's relationship with its surrounding waters, which were previously subject to strict military restrictions during decades of cross-strait tensions. "These events represent our transformation from a frontline military outpost to a destination for cultural and athletic exchange," Li noted. Registration for the 2025 Kinmen Swimming remains open until June 20, with organizers anticipating more than 1,200 participants from throughout Taiwan's main island and beyond, further cementing Kinmen's growing importance as a hub for domestic tourism and athletic competitions. ★
