More than 2.74 million candies of different colors are used to pave a pedestrian street before the Chengdu International Finance Square shopping mall. (Photo: Chinanews.com)

Candies become sticky waste. (Photo: Chinanews.com)

(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.