Designs of the world's tallest hourglass, which will be built at the Pingtan Sand Sculpture Park for upcoming international sand sculpture festival [Photo/ptnet.cn]

Good news for the art lovers of Pingtan, Fujian province as its tourism authorities recently announced to build the world's tallest hourglass at the Pingtan Sand Sculpture Park, ptnet.cn reported on April 15.

Officials further said that they will apply for the Guinness Book of Records.

The hourglass is designed to be 6.8 meters high and 3 meter wide, which is taller than the current world's tallest hourglass that is situated in Japan and is 5.2 meters high and 1 meter wide.

At present, workers and designers are solving a difficulty, the turning of its upside down when the sand in the upper bulb runs out, as the Guinness requires, said a local official.

The hourglass will be a highlight of this year's sand sculpture festival, which is scheduled next month in May at the sand sculpture park.

The official added that Pingtan's sand is "special", so they want to attract more visitors and increase the national exposure of the sand sculpture festival through highlights such as the giant hourglass.

The Pingtan International Sand Sculpture Festival is an annual event that started back in 2003. Local authorities are committed to developing it into a cultural brand, which will also be helpful to boost the zone's tourism sector.