The sand building project of 2026 Zhoushan International Sand Sculpture Festival opens on March 25 in Zhoushan. [Photo provided by Weng Yu for Tide News] 

The sand building project of the 2026 Zhoushan International Sand Sculpture Festival kicked off at Zhujiajian Island in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province, on March 25.

This year's festival is themed "Galloping Horses on Golden Sands" and will feature a sand sculpture creation period running from April 1 to 20. The exhibition is scheduled to open in mid-May and will run until February 2027.

Covering 10,000 square meters, this year's event will showcase 50 sand sculptures centered around the theme of horses.

The works will incorporate AI technology and intangible cultural heritage elements, featuring both traditional and modern representations of horses. The exhibition will also include anime characters and sports motifs, fully showcasing the horse as a symbol of vitality, loyalty, and perseverance.

In addition to the sculptures, the festival will present a nighttime light show with custom lighting effects for each piece, and a performance stage featuring a lineup of musical acts.

The Zhoushan International Sand Sculpture Festival, held for over 26 years, remains a key cultural event, enriching Zhujiajian's coastal tourism and aiming to create a stylish, youthful, and inclusive cultural tourism experience.