Not just battlefield vibes: Kinmen’s annual Beach Clam Festival heats up

Reported by Chen Zi-Yin / Kinmen

Though known for its military heritage, Kinmen transforms into a sunny, vibrant island in summer. Currently underway at Houhu Coastal Park Beach, the “Summer Glow: Kinmen’s Maritime Vibe – Kinhu Beach Clam Festival” is a month-long event featuring the nation’s only military-themed sand sculpture exhibition, a water park for kids, and paintball shooting. It’s Kinmen County’s premier annual seaside celebration.

▲ In the summer, Kinmen is full of energy. Celebrity Wu Feng also took a joyful group photo with visitors on Houhu Beach during a TV show shoot. (Photo / Reporter Huang Ke-Xiang)

▲ The event features the nation’s only military-themed sand sculpture exhibition. (Photo / Reporter Huang Ke-Xiang)

Kinmen County Magistrate Lee Wo-Shyh noted that Kinmen’s unique military culture, rooted in its history as a frontline battlefield, inherently holds distinctive tourism value. However, the island, surrounded by sea, is also an ideal summer destination. Moreover, it’s only since 1992, when tourism was opened to the public, that beach areas have gradually been made accessible—helping preserve the overall coastal scenery in excellent condition. Lee further pointed out that the third edition of the Clam Festival combines music with marine ecology and adds a strong military flavor, making it a truly signature event for Kinmen.

Running from June 28 to July 28, the “Summer Glow: Kinmen’s Maritime Vibe – Kinhu Beach Clam Festival” will gather ten talented bands from across the Chinese mainland, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. These musicians will compose songs infused with themes of liberation and military life, which will be performed alongside “adaptations of Teresa Teng’s classics” during evening concerts. As for recreational facilities, this year features three large water parks for children and sand sculpture experiences. On-site, there will be free water guns, beach toys, soccer goal challenges, beach volleyball, beach wooden ball games, and Roman catapult throwing activities. Meanwhile, paintball shooting, beach space balls, and human bumper balls require on-site registration and guided participation.

 
▲ Houhu Coastal Park remains lively at night, with scheduled performances by singers such as Show Lo, Angela Chang, and Bii throughout the event period. (Photo / Reporter Huang Ke-Xiang)

▲ A dreamy flower windmill square on the beach. (Photo / Reporter Huang Ke-Xiang)

Additionally, Magistrate Lee Wo-Shyh specially recommends this year’s newly launched “Explore Kinmen’s Hero Island: Youth Battle Camp,” organized by the county government after taking over from the national military. One hundred university student leaders will enter Yangming Second Camp to undergo an intense experience. Dressed in camouflage, they’ll embark on a team-building exploration activity modeled after a resistance-war RPG. The program includes paintball battles, high-altitude challenges in the Liuying Infantry Experience Zone, a “Delicious Old Street Food Challenge” in Houpu, and a highlight experience of kayaking along Houhu Beach as part of the “Summer Glow: Kinmen’s Maritime Vibe.”

 
▲ Battle camp students also try kayaking at the Clam Festival. (Photo / Reporter Huang Ke-Xiang)

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