Children, I wonder if you've heard of the International Children's Poetry Beach Project on Dongshan Island in Fujian
It's a magical place—a small island where, at high tide, the sandbar is submerged by seawater from both sides. When the tide goes out, a stretch of sand dozens of meters wide is revealed, and people can walk across it. It's just like poetry—sometimes it's right there, effortlessly accessible, and other times it closes its doors, making you search for it.
So we named the poetry collection from the first International Children's Poetry Beach Project, The Double-Sided Sea—this book is absolutely beautiful! That is also the name of this place.
We are calling for poems from children worldwide, under the age of 16. Attention, please—we are looking for handwritten poems. You need to write your poem down with a pen, then send us an image of it to the designated email address. Of course, your handwriting may be difficult to read, so please also send us an electronic version of the poem text to make it easier for us to translate and publish.
We will invite poets from all over the world—both young and old—to help with the judging. Then, we will carve the winning and selected poems onto the reefs by the sea, letting them bask in the sun, feel the ocean breeze, and grow old slowly alongside the Earth. Many people will come to this small island to read the poems, take photos, laugh, and cry.
Qiu Zhijie (Qiu Zhijie is a Chinese artist and educator, and the founder of the Dongshan International Children's Poetry Beach Project)
Submission Guidelines:
All entries must be original works created by the participant.Each participant may submit no more than 5 poems.Entries must be submitted as scanned handwritten copies in JPG or PNG format (file size: no less than 1M and no more than 20M).Entries must also include an electronic text version submitted as a Word document. Non-Chinese submissions must be accompanied by a Chinese translation.Entries must include the author’s real name, age/date of birth, contact information, and mailing address, submitted as a Word document to facilitate notification of selection and award results.Submission email: childrenpoem@shan-hai.artFailure to provide all required information will result in disqualification.Submission Deadline: May 1, 2026
The winners will be announced on International Children’s Day, June 1, 2026.
By submitting your work, you or your legal guardian authorize us to artistically present and publicly display your manuscript in a designated manner at Dongshan Island Seaside. We will bear the costs associated with the implementation and improve the visiting conditions of the Children’s Poetry Beach.Once a work is shortlisted or awarded, the Organizing Committee reserves the right to promote and disseminate the work through media channels, including but not limited to publication in albums/poetry collections, print media, television coverage, and promotion on websites and social media platforms.If commercial use such as derivative product development is involved, we will negotiate a separate agreement with the author or legal guardian.
International Children’s Poetry Beach Project Organizing Committee
