【Weekend Fun in Taiwan】Sand Sculptures, Fireworks & Mother’s Day Warmth

Text / Compiled & Reported by the Editorial Team of MOOK Scenic Spots Travel & Lifestyle Network

With the weekend approaching and Mother’s Day this Sunday, bring your mom and family out for a fun trip together. Check out this week’s hot activities and highlights.

2014 Fulong International Sand Sculpture Art Festival

 

Held from May 3 to June 30 on Fulong Beach, this year’s festival invites 30 sand sculptors from 17 countries including the United States, Canada, France, Ireland, Australia, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Russia, the Czech Republic, India, West Africa, Portugal, Bulgaria, Latvia, Singapore, and Taiwan for an international invitational competition. The artists are currently creating their works on Fulong Beach. This year’s theme, “An Incredible Journey of Wonder,” takes visitors on a timeless adventure—from traveling the Silk Road with Marco Polo, voyaging with Zheng He to Africa, joining a French literary giant on his “Around the World in 80 Days” in the 18th century, returning to modern-day Taiwan to see Taipei 101, and finally blasting off on a spaceship to admire the “Twelve Zodiac Constellations” in outer space.

 

※ It is recommended to take a Taiwan Railways train to Fulong Station, a short 5-minute walk from the event site.

2014 Donggang Black Amberjack Cultural Tourism Festival

 

The Black Amberjack Festival runs from May 3 to June 30 in Donggang, Pingtung. In addition to combining local agricultural and fishery specialties with cultural tourism, the event has evolved toward greater refinement and diversity. Visitors can enjoy local delicacies such as Donggang black amberjack, sakura shrimp, and oilfish roe (the “Three Treasures of Donggang”), and choose from one- to three-day tour packages based on their preferences and schedule to explore Pingtung’s beautiful landscapes and enjoy a high-quality cultural tourism experience.

During the event, weekend art and cultural performances will be held at Donggang Riverside Park and Huaqiao Market. The 440-meter-long Jinde Bridge will also be lit up every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM, transforming the riverside, music, and light projections into a fantastic open-air performance space.

 

This year’s Donggang is truly enchanting. The Tourism & Communications Department has decorated six key spots—Zhenhai Temple, Haiwu, the Donggang Riverside, the Donggang Fishery Harbor Direct Sales Center (Huaqiao Market), the Guangfu Road Japanese Wooden Bridge, and the Safety Island Park—with romantic elements. Visitors who take photos at any three of these locations, collage them into one image, and upload it to the “i-Pingtung ~ Love Pingtung” Facebook fan page with the message “I Love Pingtung - 2014 Pingtung Black Amberjack Cultural Tourism Festival” will be eligible to receive a “Love Travels With You” luggage tag (limited quantity, while supplies last).

2014 Penghu Fireworks Festival

 

The main fireworks display takes place at the Xiyang Rainbow Bridge Seawall in Guanyin Pavilion Park, Magong City, from 7:30 PM to 9:20 PM, with fireworks launched between 9:00 PM and 9:20 PM. Both the event and fireworks are subject to weather conditions and may be canceled due to adverse weather. Fireworks will be launched on 5/12 (Monday), 5/15 (Thursday), 5/19 (Monday), 5/22 (Thursday), 5/26 (Monday), 5/29 (Thursday), 6/2 (Monday), 6/5 (Thursday), 6/9 (Monday), 6/12 (Thursday), 6/16 (Monday), 6/19 (Thursday)—a total of 22 shows. Additionally, there will be special performances on 5/10 (Saturday) and 5/24 (Saturday), each lasting from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM, with fireworks from 9:00 PM to 9:15 PM.