Chiang Kai-shek and Mao Zedong

Reported by Chen Tzu-yin / Taipei

Did Chiang Kai-shek and Mao Zedong shake hands and make peace, appearing in Kinmen to welcome travelers? It turns out that Kinmen County Government, combining the local military heritage, organized a unique sand sculpture exhibition themed around military imagery. The former leaders from both sides of the Taiwan Strait, Chiang Kai-shek and Mao Zedong, are transformed into sand sculptures, smiling side by side to welcome visitors.


▲ In the Kinmen Military Sand Sculpture Exhibition, Chiang Kai-shek and Mao Zedong stand side by side to welcome visitors—an amusing sight. (Photo / Provided by Kinmen County Government)

The Kinmen Military-Themed Sand Sculpture Exhibition will be held from June 28 to July 28 on the beach at Houhu Coastal Area.According to Kinmen County Government, Kinmen once experienced the Chinese Civil War and became a military restricted zone. Today, it has been transformed into a tourism resource, shaping it into the Kinmen Military-Themed Sand Sculpture Exhibition. The event invited the sand sculpture artist team led by Wang Song-guan to provide cross-strait support. In addition to nine sand sculptures, the entire military sand sculpture exhibition also features situational setups on the ground and in bunkers, including shelters, tanks, missiles, charging soldiers, and military slogans.

The peace-symbolizing sand sculptures include nine themes: President Chiang Kai-shek and Chairman Mao Zedong’s Welcome, Crossing the Fire Line, Propaganda Flying, Fearless Warriors, Defending the Homeland, Aiming for Peace, Battlefield Vibes, War and Peace, and Eternal Peace. The largest sand sculpture is “Eternal Peace,” standing 5.5 meters tall, 12 meters long, and 15 meters wide. Additionally, “Propaganda Flying” draws creative inspiration from Teresa Teng, known as the military sweetheart, who was the best psychological warfare broadcaster in the Kinmen battlefield. It also includes phrases such as “Compatriots on the mainland, our Taiwanese steamed buns are bigger than your pillows,” which attract many visitors to take photos.


▲ The sand sculpture titled “Eternal Peace,” standing 5.5 meters tall, 12 meters long, and 15 meters wide, is the largest piece on site. (Photo / Provided by Kinmen County Government)

Artist Wang Song-guan said that the intense artillery fire and tense military atmosphere of the battlefield are perfectly highlighted under the massive scale and strong visual impact of the sand sculptures, effectively conveying the narrative of war scenarios. This allows visitors to feel as if they are in the midst of a tense situation without any real danger. There are carefully crafted landmines and anti-tank obstacles everywhere, but here, visitors can view them up close. It's a creation full of contradictions and conflicts. With both above-ground and underground military scenes, it’s extremely rare—possibly the only one of its kind in the world.

As the summer travel season approaches, a series of events including the Kinmen-Xiamen Swim, Landing Competition at Liaoluo Bay, and a Battle of the Bands among bands from both sides of the Taiwan Strait and Hong Kong will be held in succession. The public can check the details on the official tourism website of Kinmen County Government.