Head to the beach this summer for surfing and splashing fun — three major sand sculpture exhibitions are now in full swing

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team
 

With summer vacation here, many people are planning to hit the beach with family and friends to cool off with some water play. New Taipei City, Tainan City, and Kaohsiung City have also taken advantage of the peak travel season to roll out unique sand sculpture exhibitions, further enriching the experience with a variety of local beach activities. 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. Meanwhile, Kaohsiung’s Cijin Black Sand Art Festival has launched weekend-themed events, including sand sculpture beer gardens and open-air movie screenings. Gather your friends and family this summer for sand sculptures and splash-filled fun.

● New Taipei City Fulong International Sand Sculpture Art Festival
The “Fulong International Sand Sculpture Art Festival,” originally scheduled to run from May 2 to July 12, has been extended until August 31 due to the cancellation of the “New Taipei City Gongliao International Ocean Music Festival.” To keep the northeastern coast’s golden sandy beaches lively and vibrant throughout the summer, the festival has introduced a new theme: “Prayer.” For every ticket sold during the extension period, 10% of the proceeds will be donated to the New Taipei City Government’s “Formosa Fun Coast Dust Explosion Relief Fund.”

The originally planned “Fulong International Sand Sculpture Art Festival” (May 2–July 12) had the theme “Toy United Nations.” However, after being hit by typhoons, some sand sculptures were severely damaged and could not be restored. After discussion, these works will remain on display, and the new theme for the extension period (July 13–August 31) will be “After Tomorrow.” The organizers also announced that until the end of August, they will hold weekly “Sand Sculpture Destruction Shows,” revealing one sculpture per week and inviting visitors to take part in smashing it—symbolizing rebirth through destruction.

【Info】
New Taipei City Fulong International Sand Sculpture Art Festival
Event Dates: 2015/05/05 – 2015/07/12 (Extended to 08/31)
Admission: General admission NT$100 / Group (20+ people) NT$90 / Students and seniors over 65 NT$80 / Free for people with disabilities and one accompanying person / Children under 6 NT$10 (insurance fee)
 
●Cijin Black Sand Art Festival
Kaohsiung’s biggest summer event, the “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. In addition to admiring numerous vivid sand sculptures, visitors can enjoy weekend-themed events such as sand sculpture competitions, beach beer gardens, and pet Olympics. One of the highlights is the “Sand Sculpture Open-Air Cinema,” where sculptors build stages with hanging screens and project films, creating a unique beach drive-in movie experience for a cozy seaside afternoon.