Head to the summer beach for waves, splashes, and three major sand sculpture exhibitions now in full swing

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team
 

With the arrival of summer vacation, many people are planning to hit the beach with family and friends to cool off and enjoy the water. In response to the peak travel season, New Taipei City, Tainan City, and Kaohsiung City have rolled out uniquely themed sand sculpture displays, complemented by a series of enriching activities held right on the beaches. Among them, the Fulong Sand Sculpture Festival in New Taipei City was originally scheduled to end on July 12 but has been extended until the end of August due to unforeseen circumstances. Meanwhile, the Cijin Black Sand Art Festival in Kaohsiung has launched weekend-themed events, including sand sculpture beer gardens and outdoor cinemas. Round up your group and let’s enjoy sand sculptures and beach fun this summer.

● New Taipei City Fulong International Sand Sculpture Art Festival
The “Fulong International Sand Sculpture Art Festival,” originally scheduled from May 2 to July 12, has been extended to August 31 following the cancellation of the “New Taipei City Gongliao International Marine Music Festival.” To keep the northeast coast’s golden sands vibrant and lively throughout the summer vacation, a new theme — “Prayers” — has been introduced for the sand sculptures. During the extension period, 10% of every ticket sold will be donated to the New Taipei City Government’s “Formosa Fun Coast Dust Explosion Relief Project.”

The original “Fulong International Sand Sculpture Art Festival” (scheduled from 5/2–7/12) had the theme “Toy United Nations,” but after being damaged by typhoons, some sand sculptures were beyond repair. After deliberation, these pieces will remain as part of the extended festival (7/13–8/31), which adopts the new theme “After Tomorrow.” Organizers also announced that a “Sand Sculpture Destruction Show” will be held weekly until the end of August, during which one sand sculpture will be selected each week for visitors to help demolish — an activity symbolizing rebirth through destruction.

【Info】
New Taipei City Fulong International Sand Sculpture Art Festival
Dates: 2015/05/05 – 2015/07/12 (extended to 08/31)
Ticket Prices: NT$100 (general admission); NT$90 (groups of 20+); NT$80 (students & seniors aged 65+); free (people with disabilities + one accompanying person); NT$10 (children under 6, includes insurance fee)
 
●Cijin Black Sand Art Festival
Kaohsiung’s biggest summer event — “Summer Solstice 235 - Cijin Black Sand Art Festival” — kicked off at Cijin Beach on July 4 and will run for six weeks until August 9. Alongside numerous lifelike sand sculptures, the festival will host weekly events such as sand sculpture competitions, beach beer gardens, and pet Olympics. The highlight is the “Sand Sculpture Cinema,” where sculptors create a stage with hanging screens, using projectors to screen movies, turning the beach into a cozy open-air theater for a relaxing afternoon.