News / Fulong Sand Sculpture Art Festival – 30 sculptors, 71 works create golden legends

▲Sculptor Rusty Croft (center) showcases a panda sand sculpture created at the press conference.

Reported and photographed by Chen Rui-zhong / Taipei

The "2014 Fulong International Sand Sculpture Art Festival," jointly organized by the Northeast Coast & Yilan Coast National Scenic Area Administration of the Tourism Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, and the Fleur Pavilions Hotel under Lihpao Group, will grandly kick off from May 3 to June 30. This year, 30 sand sculptors from 17 countries have been invited to collaborate, presenting a variety of sand sculptures themed around an "Incredible Journey of Wonder."

At the press conference held on April 21, Fang Zhengguang, Director of the Northeast Coast & Yilan Coast National Scenic Area Administration of the Tourism Bureau, stated that Fulong boasts a seaside bathing beach, green tourism resources, and excellent sand quality. He hopes that through this collaboration between the government and private sector, Taiwan’s tourism can be further promoted. Compared to previous years, this year’s sand sculpture festival has comprehensively installed barrier-free pathways, allowing all members of the public the opportunity to view the sculptures up close.

▲(From left, third onwards) Zhang Lirong, Deputy General Manager of the Hotel Division at Fleur Pavilions, sand sculptor Rusty Croft, and Fang Zhengguang, Director of the Northeast Coast & Yilan Coast National Scenic Area Administration, jointly promote the Fulong International Sand Sculpture Art Festival.

Zhang Lirong, Deputy General Manager of the Hotel Division at Fleur Pavilions, also mentioned that this year, sand sculptors from around the world will present 71 works in Fulong, and he welcomes the public to visit Fulong and enjoy the unique "Golden Sand Legend."

At the press conference, sand sculptor Rusty Croft also used Fulong’s sea sand to carve a lifelike "sand sculpture panda cub," generating even greater anticipation for the arrival of the sand sculpture art festival.

▲With 17 years of experience in sand sculpture, Rusty Croft spoke highly of the quality of Fulong’s sand.

According to the organizers, Fulong’s fine sand is the best in all of Taiwan for sand sculpture. This year’s sand sculpture works cover themes such as the Silk Road, Taipei 101, Zheng He’s voyages to the Western Seas, global travel, and space journeys. In addition to encouraging the use of public transportation to reach Fulong during the event period, the festival has also partnered with tourism operators to launch sand sculpture tour packages. On the opening day, May 3, the first 3,000 visitors can also enjoy free admission. For more details, please visit the2014 Fulong International Sand Sculpture Art Festival official websiteand theNortheast Coast & Yilan Coast National Scenic Area Administration websitefor more information.