Wearing a broad smile and casual clothes, an immortal is a recurrent image in traditional Chinese legends. They usually possess magical powers and live a carefree life in heaven.

In early September on the sunlit Harrisand beach of British Columbia in Canada, five immortals created by Chinese artists won the first prize in the Master Double Class in the 16th Annual World Championships of Sand Sculpture Competition.

The sculpture "Immortals Get Together" created by Feng Guangxing and Liu Jinjun from Yinchuan, capital of Northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, managed to beat 17 double class groups comprising renowned world champions.

"It is the first time for Asian artists to win the first prize in this world class competition of sand art which originates and develops in the European countries," said Feng Guangxing.

The annual gathering on Harrison Hot Springs is a widely acknowledged first-rate sand sculpture competition and its prizes have been won by American and European participants during the 16 years since its establishment.

"It is a comprehensive testing of our skill, artistic view and physical strength. It's not easy to win," said Feng, who started dabbling in the art three years ago, together with Liu Jinjun.

Back then, Feng was a wood sculptor with his own furniture factory. "I had no idea of what sand sculpture was when Liu came to ask me for co-operation," Feng recalled.

When Liu led him to Shahu in Ningxia where a sand competition was held at that time Feng laughed, "Oh, that is what I have done as a little child." He decided to have a try.

Born in Jingbian County, Shaanxi Province, Feng spent his childhood in a place covered with sand. Playing with sand and making miniature sand castles were popular games for the children in his town.

But familiarity doesn't make this sand art an easy task.

Feng said, "In my childhood I only made simple models out of the sand. But the sand sculptures they have done show exquisite craftsmanship."

"Previously I sculpted in solid wood. However, to sculpt in the soft sand and to make it stand sounds quite amazing to me," Feng added.

"To finish a wood sculpture may take me several months and all the procedures were pre-set and under control. But sand sculpture is different. It needs only hours or days, but it depends on inspiration at the very moment," he said.

Liu, a former project manager in a profitable foreign-venture company, fell in love with sand sculpture when he worked as an interpreter for the International Sand Sculpture Competition held in Shahu in Ningxia in 2002.

Liu and Feng started to work together three years ago.

According to Feng, creativity is very important to his work because all the elements of the sand sculpture cannot be decided beforehand.

"You have no idea of what kind of sand and how large an area the competition requires you to work with, so I have to decide what to make at the very moment," Feng explained.

Also, to work outdoor doing sand sculpture means a much harsher environment for this former wood sculptor.

In the summer of 2003, Feng, together with his teammates worked in the Shanshan desert of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region for two months with a ground temperature of 82 C in the daytime. So the team had to work at night when it was not so hot.

Liu told China Daily that upon their departure from Harrisand, the president of the competition urged him to come next year, saying, "A competition without Chinese artists is not a real international competition. You should come for China, a great nation and a great people."

"This invitation gave us enormous relief as our work won recognition of the world," Liu said.

(China Daily September 28, 2005)