The cross-strait swim relay between Kinmen and Xiamen will take place on August 1 and 2. This is the seventh year the two sides have held this cross-strait competition.
Taiwan’s outlying island of Kinmen and China’s Xiamen Province have taken turns to host the 7-kilometer race. This year, they expect about 100 teams. Participants need to pass a swimming test as swimmers must cross the ocean, which is much more dangerous than ordinary races.
This year, 18-year old Su Shih-han and 17-year old Fu Yu-ching will team up again for the fifth time. Last year, they finished second with a time of 1 hour 46 minutes, 22 seconds. When asked about the race, Su said the waves were really big and the sun strong, but it was a lot of fun. They hope to perform even better this year.
The race is symbolic of the closer exchanges between Taiwan and China as the waters used to be a cross-strait battlefield.