On October 18, the 2026 "King's Luck · Dahuai" Cup 4th Hongze Lake Swimming Competition and Thousand-Person Crab Feast was held at Fisherman's Bay on Hongze Lake. Nearly 1,000 swimming enthusiasts from across China gathered at Hongze Lake to take part in this golden autumn event featuring "sports + culture and tourism + gastronomy."

This year's swimming competition drew nearly 1,000 swimmers from 51 teams across 11 provinces and municipalities, including Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Anhui, and Jiangsu, with more than 70% of participants from outside Jiangsu Province. The competition featured two categories: the Hongze Lake 1,000-meter Recreational Swim and the Men's and Women's 500-meter Speed Race.

Beyond the competition venue, cultural and tourism activities were equally vibrant. The crab feast with 100 tables for 1,000 people kicked off as scheduled. After swimming in Hongze Lake, participants gathered around tables to savor plump, roe-rich Hongze Lake hairy crabs and authentic Huaiyang delicacies, while enjoying performances showcasing local heritage and shows by some of the participating swim teams. In addition, participants could take time beyond the races to tour scenic spots such as the Hongze Lake Ancient Dam—a World Cultural Heritage site—and the Zhouqiao Datang Ruins Park, or enjoy discounted admission to Huai'an Glorious Orient and the Boonie Bears Land, fully experiencing the cultural and natural charms of lakeside Hongze.

The Hongze Lake Swimming Competition has been held for four consecutive editions, enjoying growing influence and broad popularity among swimming enthusiasts. Leveraging Hongze Lake's premium water resources, Hongze District has fully tapped into its water sports potential, actively forging a new path of high-quality development driven by tourism as the foundation, sports as the enabler, and industry as the efficiency booster.