By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Network, reported by Chen Guanxin
The 2013 Fulong International Sand Sculpture Art Festival officially kicked off last Saturday (May 4), attracting tens of thousands of visitors in the morning. Those planning to attend can drive or take the train themselves, or join the “Taiwan Tourist Shuttle—Golden Fulong Line,” which takes visitors to nine major Northeast Coast attractions including Ruifang Railway Station, Jiufen, Gold Ecological Park, Shuinandong, Bitou, Longdong Bay Marine Park, Longdong Four Seasons Bay, Aodi, and Fulong. In addition to continuing its “NT50 Bus One-Day Pass” with unlimited rides, tourism operators have also launched the “Golden Fulong Line Tour Package.” For 350 NT, the “Take the Golden Fulong Line to See Sand Sculptures” package includes a bus ticket, a local train ticket, admission to the sand sculpture festival, a Fulong bento box, and a limited-edition headband. Another discounted option is available for 299 NT, which includes a bus ticket, a local train ticket, a bicycle experience voucher, a Fulong bento box, and a limited-edition headband.
The first-prize winning sculpture of this year’s Taiwan International Sand Sculpture Competition—“Dear, I Brought the Dinosaur to the Real World.” (Photo provided by Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area Administration)
This year’s event will feature a total of 77 sand sculptures divided into four zones: the Theme Exhibition Area with 34 pieces, the International Creation Exhibition Area with 11, the International Competition Area with 12, and the Domestic Competition Area with 20, making it the largest in scale and quantity to date. The content includes the classic children’s toy “rattle drum,” representations of local culture and cuisine in “Old Taiwanese Street,” the globally beloved comic “Old Master Q,” and the Spring Festival blockbuster hit “David Loman,” which surpassed 100 million NTD at the box office. Also featured are the globally renowned sci-fi film “Star Wars,” international acclaimed director Ang Lee who won four Oscars for “Life of Pi,” global sensation PSY and his “Gangnam Style” horse dance, and the 90s favorite manga “One Piece”—all serving as inspiration for both domestic and international sand sculptors. The inaugural Taiwan International Sand Sculpture Competition invited top artists from ten countries: the Netherlands, Spain, Mexico, Ireland, Japan, Canada, the UK, the USA, Taiwan, and China. The championship was won by Canadian artist Jonathan Bouchard with his piece “Dear, I Brought the Dinosaur to the Real World (Dragon on Reality).” The second and third places went to British artist Baldrick Buckle and Chinese artist Wang Jie, respectively.
British artist Baldrick Buckle won second place with his work “Guess Who’s Talking.” (Photo provided by Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area Administration)
Drivers planning to visit the sand sculpture site can use multiple parking areas arranged by the organizers, such as the spaces in front of the Fulong Visitor Center and next to Fulong Elementary School, offering around 800 parking spots. For more details, please visit the official website of the 2013 Fulong Sand Sculpture Festival. To ease traffic at the venue, visitors may park along Provincial Highway 2B and take a paid shuttle bus to the site. The shuttle operates on weekends and holidays during the event period, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with buses running approximately every 15 minutes. Visitors are also advised to take Taiwan Railways trains to Fulong Station and walk about five minutes to reach the event site.
● Read more: 2013 Fulong International Sand Sculpture Art Festival offers free entry on the morning of the May 4 opening day
http://goo.gl/Ovbfr
Chinese artist Wang Jie portrays children’s curious childhood through his work “Curious Baby.” (Photo provided by Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area Administration)