A Spectacular Showdown of Salt and Sand: The Eye-Opening One Sight, Two Sculptures Art Festival in Tainan

By Chen Guanxin, MOOK Travel & Lifestyle Network

 

While the Fulong International Sand Sculpture Art Festival is in full swing, Tainan’s 2013 One Sight, Two Sculptures Art Festival also kicked off this day through June 30 at the “Qigu Salt Mountain” (salt sculptures) and “Masago Recreation Area” (sand sculptures), featuring 40 master sculptors from the United States, Japan, France, Singapore, Taiwan, and China who have poured their talents into creating 31 salt and sand sculptures. This year’s themes include One Piece’s Boa Hancock, the Trojan Horse from Greek mythology, Life of Pi, Super Mario Bros., and Twilight. Among them, the largest salt sculpture in Taiwan — a 7-meter-tall, 9-meter-wide masterpiece titled “Dinosaur Battle” — combines laser, computer beams, and music effects to present a magical light and sound show.

The “One Sight, Two Sculptures Art Festival” is the only large-scale event in Taiwan that uses “salt” and “sand” as its primary materials. At the Masago Recreation Area, 1,000 tons of sand were used to create 13 sand sculptures, including classic tales from the “Greek Mythology Zone” such as the Trojan Horse, Hercules vs. the Hydra, and Medusa; the “Coastal Adventure Zone” features works like the Love of the White Dolphin, the Ancient South Sea Battle, and the Four Heavenly Kings of Good Weather; the “World Wonders Zone” showcases famous historical structures such as the Colosseum and Russia’s St. Basil’s Cathedral. The “Cartoon & Anime Zone” presents fan-favorites for all ages, such as One Piece’s Boa Hancock, Naruto’s Orochimaru, and Winnie the Pooh. The largest sand sculpture (300 tons), standing 6 meters tall and 18 meters wide, is themed around “Ang Lee Films,” featuring Oscar classics like Life of Pi, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and The Hulk. On holidays, free DIY sand sculpture activities for families are also offered.

At the Qigu Salt Mountain, Taiwan Salt Corporation provided 1,000 tons of salt to create 18 salt sculptures. These include the “Pride of Taiwan Zone,” featuring themes like the black-faced spoonbill, Tainan orchids, and the China-Japan Baseball Series; anime characters such as One Piece and Super Mario Bros. appear in the “Joyful Cartoon Zone” at the Taiwan Salt Museum; the “Spooky Fun Zone” showcases the world’s most terrifying classic characters, such as Casper the Friendly Ghost, Gremlins, Twilight, the movie Sadako from Ringu, Texas Chainsaw Massacre’s Leatherface, alien creatures like the Xenomorph, and Chucky’s Seed of Chucky, all recreated with amazing detail. The most spectacular piece, “Dinosaur Battle,” stands 7 meters tall, 9 meters wide, and uses 200 tons of salt. It combines lasers, computer beams, LED lights, and specially composed music effects, all precisely controlled by a DMX computer system, delivering a complete magical light and sound show in a theatrical storytelling format. This spectacle is not only unique in Taiwan but surpasses the ice sculptures of Harbin and conventional light shows. The light and sound show runs daily from 09:30 to 17:30, with performances every half hour, and free family-friendly salt DIY and salt pan experience activities are arranged on holidays.

Additionally, from this day through June 30, a “Special Deals” campaign is also available, including a “Sculpture Vote & Win” lottery, and a small gift for those who collect two stamps with the “event brochure.” Entry to the Masago Recreation Area after 17:30 costs just NT$50 (originally NT$120). The “Taiwan Good to Go – Salt Coast Line” offers a one-day transport ticket that comes with a free USB hub and Taiwan Salt Pastry upon presentation of the ticket stub, and also includes free entry to Qigu Salt Mountain, discounted tickets to the Taiwan Salt Museum, and free admission to the Masago Recreation Area after 17:30. The originally scheduled Sand Sculpture Creative Competition at Masago Recreation Area from May 25–26 has been extended — the registration deadline is now May 20, and the competition will take place on June 1 and 2. For more information, contact 06-7861017 or visit the official website: 2013salt-sandart.swcoast-nsa.gov.tw.

 

 

● More great spots in Tainan: Tainan’s Guidan Hot Spring Experience Pool Celebrates Its Opening — Free Entry Before June 30 !

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