A pop-up haven for expression

After the city was dismantled, the materials were repurposed — reflecting the project's commitment to sustainability.

One of the most striking installations stood by the beach near the entrance to the sand city: a towering silver cartoon figure curled up in a pool and hugging her knees, with water cascading over her.

Created by 15-year-old Dou Zijia, the piece reflects her personal experience with psoriasis — a skin condition she's lived with for eight years, which forced her to take a year off from school.

The seawater shower leaves salt deposits on the figure's surface, mimicking flaky skin. The concept, Zijia says, is that viewers are encouraged to scrape off the salt residue using their fingers or the shells they find on the beach, a metaphor for healing.

"I have faced a lot of doubts and stares. I wanted to create this work to help people understand psoriasis patients and reduce prejudice," she says.

Beside the installation, she placed a cardboard sign that welcomed viewers to connect with her on social media and leave comments.

"I read the comments where people say they've learned something about the disease or leave words of comfort, and I feel all of this is worth it," she adds.

The festival's artists were selected by an artistic committee. In just 17 days, the call for entries received nearly 2,500 applications from artists, who submitted 650 sets of artworks or projects.

In total, more than 127 sets of artworks were showcased, ranging from paintings and photographs to installations and floats, and over 165 performances, including short plays, performance art and stand-up. Other activities included film screenings, script reading sessions and cultural merchandise markets.

"From a 15-year-old to an 87-year-old artist, I have seen creativity and curiosity for life across ages, backgrounds and mediums of expression. None of those things matter — what matters is the desire to express, and the ability to feel deeply," Liu says.