2014-05-05

If the idea of waiting weeks to enjoy beaches, sunshine and sandcastles is too long for you, better head to Taiwan.

Why Taiwan? Well, for one, they've in the middle of their Sand Sculpture Festival which mixes sand, art and beaches all in one 58-day long event. That and you try saying "no" to this face.



A visitor walks past a sand sculpture named 'The Journey to Me' made by Netherlands artist Lars Borst during the Sand Sculpture Festival 2014 in Fulong, northern New Taipei City on May 3, 2014.

Or "no" to this face for that matter.



Visitors walk past a sand sculpture named 'Marco Polo' during the Sand Sculpture Festival 2014 in Fulong, northern New Taipei City on May 3, 2014.

This year's event brings over 80 sculptures to northern New Taipei City's Fulong beach. The event has become a big hit with tourists with over 450,000 people in attendance in 2013, according to the Taipei Times. But it's not just locals and travellers coming across the globe to see the collection of sandy works on display.



Visitors admire sand sculptures on a beach during the Sand Sculpture Festival 2014 in Fulong, northern New Taipei City on May 3, 2014.

Visitors look at a sand sculpture named 'Not True Wealth' made by Irish artist Daniel Doyle during the Sand Sculpture Festival 2014 in Fulong, northern New Taipei City on May 3, 2014.

The festival is also a competition, with artists from 17 countries such as India, the United States and the Czech Republic duking it out. Sculptor will be vying for a grand prize of NT$30,000, (CDN $1093), Focus Taiwan reports.

Visitors walk past a sand sculpture named 'Energy of Universe' by Czech artist Radovan Zivny during the Sand Sculpture Festival 2014 in Fulong, northern New Taipei City on May 3, 2014.

Visitors walk past a sand sculpture named 'Xuan Zang' during the Sand Sculpture Festival 2014 in Fulong, northern New Taipei City on May 3, 2014.

This year marks the festival's seventh year at the beach, thanks to its sand.

A worker sprays glue onto a sand sculpture during the Sand Sculpture Festival 2014 in Fulong, northern New Taipei City on May 3, 2014.

“The sand at the beach is soft, delicate to the touch and easily manageable after being mixed with water,” Liu Shih-ming, deputy director-general of the administration, told Taiwan Today, adding that it is rated by World Sand Sculpting Academy as the best in Taiwan.

The festival runs till June 30 and will cost NT$100 (CDN $3.65) to attend.

A visitor takes pictures of a sand sculpture named Santa Maria della Salute' during the Sand Sculpture Festival 2014 in Fulong, northern New Taipei City on May 3, 2014.

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