Rainstorm turns candy mosaic into tons of waste   

成都274万颗糖铺世界最大糖果地毯 受潮变垃圾(图)

2月5日，成都国际金融中心(IFS)门前，已空空如也。就在一周前，这里曾是市民围观的焦点：长185米，五彩斑斓的“糖果地毯”，穿越商场门前。这引人注目的“糖果地毯”，由274万颗彩纸包裹的糖果组成。活动主办方称，糖果在展览后，将分发公众和贫困地区的孩童。但出乎意料的是，成都一家垃圾回收公司的仓库，却最终成了“糖果地毯”目前的归宿。[查看全文]

(ECNS) - Sudden heavy rainfall has turned the "world's largest" candy mosaic into tons of sticky waste that wound up in the trash in Chengdu, capital of Southwest China's Sichuan province.

At the Chengdu International Finance Square shopping mall a week ago, more than 2.74 million candies of different colors were used to pave a pedestrian street. Nearly 2000 volunteers helped create the mosaic, 185 meters long and seven meters wide, with a whopping 19 tons of sweets.

Organizers at the shopping mall had said the candy would be delivered to the public and children in poverty-stricken areas after the show, the West China Metropolis Daily reports.

But instead, 10 tons of candy wound up in garbage bags. Luo Dan, director of an environment and cultural exchange center in Chengdu, said the marketing stunt was a big waste.

The shopping mall explained that the mosaic was planned to be shown only on Jan 25, but extended because of its strong appeal to visitors, until the rainstorm on Jan 28 destroyed it.

The shopping mall also said the remaining candy will continue to be offered for free on Feb 9 as planned. The wasted candy will be processed in the "most environmentally friendly way" through cooperation with third-party organizations.

The shopping mall will also fulfill its promise to donate 29,595 yuan ($4,732) on behalf of each volunteer to a free lunch charity project for children, according to the newspaper. 

Zhang Xiaoyuan, a professor of communication at Sichuan International Studies University, said the shopping mall's marketing is a successful combination of attention and charity, but it lacked careful consideration of the weather.