In 1995 civil groups in Hualien County held the Hualian International Stone Sculpture Outdoors Creativity Competition for the first time, an international event that was very well-received. This competition brought 18 stone sculptors from 10 countries together with Taiwanese sculptors, the sculptors engaging in stone sculpture creativity in the grounds of the disused Yanliao Elementary School. This was the first time Taiwan had staged an international stone sculpture creative camp and it provided an opportunity for stone sculptors from Taiwan and overseas to observe and learn from each other.
