The First Kinmen Paintball Tournament – 9 Teams Battle It Out for the Sorghum Prize

▲ An exciting paintball event requires teamwork for both positioning and tactics to secure victory.

Reported and photographed by Reporter Chen Ruizhong / Kinmen

“GoGoGo!” “Cover me!” “Enemy hit!” Watching several “soldiers” darting between cover, accompanied by shouts and bursts of gunfire – this is the most common scene in an exciting paintball match.
Paintball is one of the sports beloved by many in Taiwan, and it’s also a popular team-building activity for companies to motivate employees and strengthen team cohesion. But have you ever thought about playing paintball in the former battlefield of Kinmen??

▲ How to effectively use cover to hide and attack the enemy is often the key to winning a paintball match.

Kinmen, a strategically important location, was once the frontline

▲With trees, bushes, bunkers, and the unique wartime atmosphere, doesn't it make you want to show off your skills here?

Against the backdrop of its history, environment, and cultural festivals, and with strong government support, Kinmen hosted the "2013 Frontier Support Heroes Island National Paintball Competition" on November 30, attracting many skilled paintball players.

▲In addition to 5-on-5 quick battles, the Kinmen County Government also specially organized a 50-person group offensive and defensive battle.

Kinmen County Magistrate Lee Wo-shih stated in his speech that Kinmen now places great emphasis on the process of "military camp revitalization." Whether it’s developing scouting training activities, military experience programs, or the upcoming opening of Taiwan’s first rifle shooting experience venue, all are key focuses of Kinmen's wartime development. The strong military ambiance of Kinmen is also very suitable for hosting exciting and healthy paintball activities. Aside from this inaugural paintball competition, future efforts will undoubtedly strengthen infrastructure so that the general public can also come to Kinmen to enjoy the fun of paintball.

▲Kinmen County Magistrate Lee Wo-shih (4th from the left) and honored guests raised their guns to announce the opening of the event.

Yang Chen-yu, Director of the Kinmen County Government Tourism Department, also pointed out that in the past, the experience of Kinmen’s wartime culture was limited to static artifact displays. But now, they hope to combine paintball activities with war history, allowing participants to wear military uniforms, stay in barracks, and play paintball—experiencing Kinmen’s history through a complete military-themed itinerary.

▲Kinmen plans to launch a comprehensive wartime itinerary that includes wearing military uniforms, playing paintball, and experiencing military life.

As a seasoned player, Yu Wei-chih, Secretary-General of the Nantou Paintball Committee, said that most paintball and airsoft games in Taiwan take place in paintball arenas, ruins, or private woods. Aside from the Yangming Camp, which uses inflatable cover structures for competitions, the paintball field converted from the Cemetery No. 2 Camp has vast space and gentle terrain. Everything from bunkers and bushes to woods can serve as cover, plus it offers an irreplaceable wartime atmosphere.

▲The battlefield is overgrown with trees and grass, making even the marching process quite similar to real jungle combat.

Given the conditions of the camp environment, various game formats such as capture the flag, annihilation battles, dragon-slaying battles, or offensive and defensive matches can be designed. Yu Wei-chih recommends that players organize multiplayer team matches with 3–4 teams, and each person carry a ammo pouch with 400–500 rounds or more. Coupled with rich tactics and hand signals, it allows for a more authentic war game experience.

▲The pristine combat environment makes paintball in Kinmen even more fun.

According to Yu Wei-chih’s estimate, there are currently over 100,000 paintball and airsoft players in Taiwan, indicating high market potential. If the Kinmen County Government pays proper attention to the development of paintball and airsoft in Kinmen, it will surely attract more players in the future. However, Yu Wei-chih and other players unanimously agree: "The biggest obstacle remains the airfare to the outlying island."

▲What kind of trophy best represents Kinmen’s character? You can tell at a glance!(ETtoday reminds you that excessive drinking is harmful to your health!)