Artist Lin Fuping meticulously crafts intricate sand paintings. 

Pingtan, an island off the coast of Fujian province renowned for its windswept beaches and rich cultural heritage, is home to a unique art form—sand painting. Lin Fuping, a local artisan, has mastered the craft of transforming the island's high-purity quartz sand into breathtaking artworks, blending traditional techniques with contemporary themes.

Artist Lin Fuping (right) demonstrates his process to visitors.

Visitors to the Lin Fuping Sand Sculpture Art Gallery are greeted with vibrant scenes—stone houses, narcissus flowers, and the iconic Pingtan's Shipaiyang rock formations—all meticulously crafted from layers of colored sand.

The Art of Sand

Unprocessed sands reveal the island's geological poetry.

Unlike traditional relief carvings on wood or stone, Lin's medium is the island's own sand—fine, translucent, and composed of over 90% quartz, giving it remarkable hardness and a natural shimmer. "The key lies in the sand itself," Lin explains. "Pingtan's sand is uniquely suited for this art—its texture and color variations allow for incredible depth and detail."

The process begins with delicate brushstrokes of glue on a prepared surface, followed by the careful sprinkling of sand. Lin's signature technique involves layering different shades to create striking three-dimensional effects. "Sometimes, a single piece requires multiple rounds of sand application to achieve the right density and contrast," he says.

From Local Craft to National Recognition

A masterpiece depicting Pingtan's iconic Shipaiyang rock formations using layered colored sands. 

Lin Fuping captures Pingtan's magical "blue tears" phenomenon using naturally pigmented sands.

Lin's journey began in 2010 when he experimented with locally collected sand, creating his first piece, Pingtan Stone Houses, which immediately drew praise. Since then, his works—ranging from traditional motifs to modern interpretations of "blue tears" bioluminescence—have earned awards and captivated audiences at exhibitions across China.

But for Lin, preserving this heritage is just as important as innovation. He regularly conducts workshops in Pingtan's schools, teaching children the art of sand painting. "As a Pingtan craftsman, I feel a duty to pass this tradition on," he says. "Seeing young students create their own sand art is incredibly rewarding."

Traditional artifacts framed by ephemeral sand art, bridging past and present

Today, his gallery stands not just as a showcase of skill, but as a testament to Pingtan's cultural identity—one grain of sand at a time.