Luliang is famous for its rich colored Sand Forest. The International Sand Sculpture Festival is held at the end of March, right after the Chinese New Year, although accommodation is at a premium then. One of the delights of a visit to Luliang is the opportunity to admire, and buy sand art crafts. A sand painting is a distinctive object, based like so many things in the Boyi community, on century old traditions.

From the provincial capital Kunming, take the 324 national freeway and drive just 128 kilometers to reach the Luliang Sand Forest. The Sand Forest was formed thousands and thousands of years ago while this landscape used to be an ocean. The current attraction covers an area of about six square kilometers.

Unlike the common beach sand, the Luliang Sand Forest is a combination of sand and stone that cumulate as prominences and mounts. The glory of reflection from the sunshine reproduces a magnificent view of its distinctive character quite like the Stone Forest, but a finer version.

Due to the nature of a mixture of mud and sand, the hills and mounts have an extraordinary cohesive force making it possible for sculpture artists to create complicated works and statues for the annual International Sand Sculpture Festival. Young artists from America, Canada, England, and France join together with Chinese performers to exercise their creativities with broad imagination.

The Annual International Sand Sculpture Festival is held on March 8, and includes the International Sand Culture Research Forum; the Colorful Sand Forest Photograph Exhibition; Sand Sculpture Cup Volleyball Competition; Sand Sculpture Cup Calligraphy Competition; and Sand Sculpture Bowling Competition. This event is officially designated as one of the major occasions in the World Sand Sculpture Committee. The quality of sand is also well selected this year and the color range has been increased from choice of six to 12.