World highest altitude swimming race kicks off in China

BEIJING: The world's highest altitude swimming race held at an elevation of 2,200 meters in Tibetan plateau today started in China's Yellow River in northwest Qinghai Province.

The race has attracted 74 swimmers from home and abroad and is being held in Guide county at an altitude of 2,200 meters in Tibetan plateau, the world highest altitude swimming race.

"Swimming in this cold water is a big challenge to me, but it's so exciting, I will try my best to finish it," said Jiang Wei, a swimmer from China's Shanxi Province.

Low water temperature, high altitude, thin oxygen all blended well, making Guide an ideal place to host international winter swimming race.

Winter swimming is the activity of swimming during the winter season, typically in outdoor locations or in unheated pools.

In colder countries it may be synonymous with ice swimming, when the water is frozen over. This requires either breaking the ice or entering where a spring prevents the formation of ice.