Play in the water while admiring sand sculptures — take a journey through time, around the world, and across history.

Photos and text byPurple Smile

Fulong has long been a famous tourist attraction and water recreation spot in northern Taiwan. Aside from the renowned Gongliao Ocean Music Festival, the annual 2014 Fulong International Sand Sculpture Art Festival is another major event you shouldn’t miss. The outstanding artworks are incredibly lifelike and truly breathtaking. Only by coming here and seeing these enchanting sand sculptures in person can you truly appreciate their amazing artistry.

The location of the 2014 Fulong International Sand Sculpture Art Festival is right at Fulong Beach.

The weather in May and June is usually unpredictable, but as soon as the sun comes out, the beach quickly fills up with people!! It gets packed all over the sands — summer is all about enjoying the sunshine, beaches, and bikinis here.

When I visited this time, the weather alternated between sunny and cloudy, plus there was a refreshing sea breeze. It was warm but not too hot — just the perfect time to check out the sand sculpture exhibition.

There were over ten artworks in the entire venue. Let’s start with the first-place winner of the 2014 Fulong International Sand Sculpture Art Festival: Vastness.

This piece actually depicts two horseback warriors crossing paths, with extremely detailed facial expressions. Beside them, there's someone shouting, resembling a character from the cartoon “Mulan”!

What a fantastic piece — so many impressive sights, truly awe-inspiring.

The other works are also excellent, each with its own unique meaning.

This one is called the Illusion of Wealth.

But of course, sand-made money is just an illusion, haha.

Church of St. Mary of Health.

Zheng He’s Voyages to the Western Seas.

The second-place piece: The Wisdom of the Lotus.

This one also left me in awe. It depicts scenes from the Silk Road, incredibly realistic!! And it has a perspective effect — truly impressive.

A work by our local Taiwanese artist — Chang’e (the Moon Goddess).

Around the World in 80 Days — everyone who came here was taking crazy amounts of photos.

See that? Those are the Wright brothers, inventors of the airplane.

To be honest, every piece has something worth seeing. To really take it all in, you’ll need to spend some time — even under the blazing sun, it’s totally worth it.

The Silk Road.

The adorable Chef Ah Ji!! Since Farglory Hotel is right nearby, strictly speaking, this place is also his turf.

The Flying Apsaras of Dunhuang.

Xuanzang, with a face showing the wear of a long journey — incredibly lifelike.

That’s the Monkey King!! His expression is so vivid — truly amazing.

Have you noticed that this year’s works feature both Eastern and Western themes, spanning ancient and modern times? Actually, this year’s theme “The Incredible Journey of Wonder” aims to let visitors travel through time and space right on Fulong Beach. With just one visit to the sand sculpture exhibition, you can go around the world and journey through history.

Pretty amazing, right? There were really a lot of families — parents bringing kids, whole families coming to see the exhibition. People of all ages, men and women, everyone was having a great time.

Hehe, what a unique scene!! Pushing strollers on the beach!!! The organizers were very thoughtful, laying wooden boards underneath so the strollers could move smoothly. Thanks to the well-planned layout, just follow the wooden path.

Besides the beach exhibition during this period, playing in the cool seawater is definitely a highlight when visiting Fulong.

But wow, the water is really quite cold！ Soaking your feet is still a lot of fun, though.

I really admire parents who bring their little ones out for trips like this！

Everyone is having a great time.

There are also special sand sculptures on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge.

The sand sculpture exhibition featuring the 12 zodiac signs also attracts many visitors.

Getting to Fulong by train is another great option besides driving — it takes less than five minutes from the station to the beach.

The Countryside Bento is a local favorite and can even be considered a landmark. When you see a long line of people here, that’s it.

The line is too long? No worries, trying this place is a good alternative.

Actually, the famous Fulong Train Bento boxes are all quite similar in content. Of course, each has its own strengths, but if you’re not too picky, there isn’t much difference.

The entire Northeast Coast is truly picturesque, with breathtaking scenery and beautiful views everywhere.

If you stand at Fulong Beach and look up at the mountains to the right, you can see the sacred Buddhist site Lingjiu Mountain – Wusheng Daochang. It sits at an elevation of about 387 meters and offers lovely scenery as well！

From here, you can enjoy some great views. On a clear day with blue skies and blue seas, it’s even more spectacular.

⟦【2014 Fulong International Sand Sculpture Art Festival】
Exhibition Dates: May 3 to June 30
Location: Fulong Beach
Official Website:http://events.necoast-nsa.gov.tw/SandArt14/

We are Ben & Jean — we love food, travel, photography, and 3C.
http://smilejean.pixnet.net/blog