A rock monument commemorating a historical swimming campaign across the Taiwan Straits in August was recently erected at the Haiyu Square in Pingtan county, Fujian province, Pingtan Times reported on Dec 8.

Tourists pose for a photo in front of a monument marking a historical swim across the Taiwan Straits in August, in Pingtan, Fujian province Dec 7. [Photo/pingtan.gov.cn]

A swimming team, composed of 14 members from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, finished the 250-kilometer course from Hsinchu county in Taiwan to Pingtan from Aug 18 to 22. It is the first time for human beings to conquer the Taiwan Straits.

“The setting up of the monument marks, on the one hand, the historical event which challenged people to the extreme, while on the other it blends the humanity element in Pingtan’s natural landscapes so tourists can get a better understanding of Pingtan,” said Gao Yun, an official with the local social affairs bureau.

He Huayun, a tourist from Fuqing county, said he was astounded at the cross-Straits swim.

“It is incredible. I mean they managed to swim from Taiwan to Pingtan. It is definitely worth commemorating,” he said.