Art in the sky: Kites first took off in China over two millennia ago
1 year, 9 months ago

Art in the sky: Kites first took off in China over two millennia ago

China Daily  

Kites are flown during a competition to celebrate the launch of the ninth edition of the national public ice and snow season in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, on Dec 24. ZHANG SHU/FOR CHINA DAILY Orcas, horses, dragons, the Monkey King from Chinese legend, skeletons, and even SpongeBob SquarePants - you probably wouldn't expect to see this collection of animals, mythological creatures, and pop cultural icons flying together in the sky, but this spectacle happens every year in Weifang, the "World Kite Capital" in east China's Shandong Province. After centuries of development, kites have become one of the country's representative traditional handicrafts, and kite-making technique was included in the list of China's national intangible cultural heritage in 2006. The traditional Chinese kite-making technique involves four steps: making the frame, pasting paper onto the frame, painting and decorating it, and then mastering the art of flying the kite. Horse-shaped kites flying at the Weifang International Kite Festival in Weifang, Shandong, April 17, 2021.

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History of this topic

Kite festival connects cultures in Eritrea
3 weeks, 6 days ago

Kite festival connects cultures in Eritrea

China Daily  

Participants from China and Eritrea pose for photos with their colorful kites. The 6th China Kite Culture Festival took place in Eritrea on Nov 17. Wang Yongxun and Yang Hongwei, representative inheritors of the national intangible cultural heritage item of Weifang kites, were invited to share the history and development of Weifang kites with local students and teachers. Through coloring …

Enthusiasts chase sky-high thrills of wind power
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Enthusiasts chase sky-high thrills of wind power

China Daily  

By CHENG YUEZHU | China Daily Global | Updated: 2024-04-30 08:58 Chinese cultural elements like Peking Opera masks are popular patterns on kites. CHINA DAILY Gao Zhenying, 66, a kite athlete with Beijing Kite Association, says that she goes to a park near her home almost every morning and flies her kite for two hours, usually a simple, single-line eagle …

Enthusiasts chase sky-high thrills of wind power
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Enthusiasts chase sky-high thrills of wind power

China Daily  

Chinese cultural elements like Peking Opera masks are popular patterns on kites. CHINA DAILY Gao Zhenying, 66, a kite athlete with Beijing Kite Association, says that she goes to a park near her home almost every morning and flies her kite for two hours, usually a simple, single-line eagle kite that can circle in the sky as long as there's …

Flights of kites
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Flights of kites

China Daily  

Many people hold at least one memory of a kite from their childhoods — be it a simple yet classic diamond or a colorful bird-shaped kind with vividly flapping wings. Yangjiabu is small enough to qualify as a village, yet is home to two national-level intangible cultural heritage items — kites and Yangjiabu New Year pictures, a type of traditional …

Enthusiasts chase sky-high thrills of wind power
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Enthusiasts chase sky-high thrills of wind power

China Daily  

By CHENG YUEZHU | China Daily Global | Updated: 2024-04-30 08:58 Huang He, 52, competes at the Beijing kite festival in mid-April. All members of the Beijing Kite Association and also Chinese Kite Association, Gao, Zhao and Huang are frequent contestants at international kite festivals and championships, winning awards with their solo or kite ballet performances. As this year marks …

Enthusiasts chase sky-high thrills of wind power
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Enthusiasts chase sky-high thrills of wind power

China Daily  

By CHENG YUEZHU | China Daily Global | Updated: 2024-04-30 08:58 Chinese cultural elements like Peking Opera masks are popular patterns on kites. CHINA DAILY Gao Zhenying, 66, a kite athlete with Beijing Kite Association, says that she goes to a park near her home almost every morning and flies her kite for two hours, usually a simple, single-line eagle …

Flights of kites
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Flights of kites

China Daily  

By Cheng Yuezhu | China Daily Global | Updated: 2024-04-30 08:50 Editor's note: Traditional arts and crafts are supreme samples of Chinese cultural heritage. Yangjiabu is small enough to qualify as a village, yet is home to two national-level intangible cultural heritage items — kites and Yangjiabu New Year pictures, a type of traditional woodblock printing used to decorate people's …

Flights of kites
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Flights of kites

China Daily  

Many people hold at least one memory of a kite from their childhoods — be it a simple yet classic diamond or a colorful bird-shaped kind with vividly flapping wings. Yangjiabu is small enough to qualify as a village, yet is home to two national-level intangible cultural heritage items — kites and Yangjiabu New Year pictures, a type of traditional …

Enthusiasts chase sky-high thrills of wind power
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Enthusiasts chase sky-high thrills of wind power

China Daily  

Chinese cultural elements like Peking Opera masks are popular patterns on kites. CHINA DAILY Gao Zhenying, 66, a kite athlete with Beijing Kite Association, says that she goes to a park near her home almost every morning and flies her kite for two hours, usually a simple, single-line eagle kite that can circle in the sky as long as there's …

Enthusiasts chase sky-high thrills of wind power
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Enthusiasts chase sky-high thrills of wind power

China Daily  

By CHENG YUEZHU | China Daily Global | Updated: 2024-04-30 08:58 Youngsters have a hands-on experience of kite making at Beijing International Kite Festival in mid-April. CHINA DAILY Increasing popularity Within China, the Chinese Kite Association hosts an annual series of kite festivals and events that attract the participation of a wider and more vibrant group of enthusiasts. Li Yiyang, …

Flights of kites
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Flights of kites

China Daily  

Editor's note: Traditional arts and crafts are supreme samples of Chinese cultural heritage. Yangjiabu is small enough to qualify as a village, yet is home to two national-level intangible cultural heritage items — kites and Yangjiabu New Year pictures, a type of traditional woodblock printing used to decorate people's homes during Spring Festival. "Our kites' decorations draw inspiration from the …

Flights of kites
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Flights of kites

China Daily  

Dragon-headed centipede kites made by Yang Hongwei, a national-level representative inheritor of kite-making techniques in Weifang, Shandong province, which is renowned as the "world capital of kites". In Tianjin, there is a family known as "kite Wei", after late Qing Dynasty virtuoso artisan Wei Yuantai, who's widely known for crafting exquisite, lifelike kites. The Wei family's fifth generation continues to …

Flights of kites
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Flights of kites

China Daily  

By Cheng Yuezhu | China Daily Global | Updated: 2024-04-30 08:50 Editor's note: Traditional arts and crafts are supreme samples of Chinese cultural heritage. Yangjiabu is small enough to qualify as a village, yet is home to two national-level intangible cultural heritage items — kites and Yangjiabu New Year pictures, a type of traditional woodblock printing used to decorate people's …

Flights of kites
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Flights of kites

China Daily  

Editor's note: Traditional arts and crafts are supreme samples of Chinese cultural heritage. Yangjiabu is small enough to qualify as a village, yet is home to two national-level intangible cultural heritage items — kites and Yangjiabu New Year pictures, a type of traditional woodblock printing used to decorate people's homes during Spring Festival. "Our kites' decorations draw inspiration from the …

Flights of kites
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Flights of kites

China Daily  

Editor's note: Traditional arts and crafts are supreme samples of Chinese cultural heritage. Yangjiabu is small enough to qualify as a village, yet is home to two national-level intangible cultural heritage items — kites and Yangjiabu New Year pictures, a type of traditional woodblock printing used to decorate people's homes during Spring Festival. "Our kites' decorations draw inspiration from the …

Annual intl festival kicks off in 'capital of kites'
8 months ago

Annual intl festival kicks off in 'capital of kites'

China Daily  

Kites in various shapes and sizes are seen at the kite festival in Weifang, Shandong province. The 41st Weifang International Kite Festival and the 2024 Weifang Kite Carnival kicked off in Weifang, East China's Shandong province on April 19. The opening ceremony of the 41st Weifang International Kite Festival and the 2024 Weifang Kite Carnival is held in Weifang, Shandong …

Annual intl festival kicks off in 'capital of kites'
8 months ago

Annual intl festival kicks off in 'capital of kites'

China Daily  

Kites in various shapes and sizes are seen at the kite festival in Weifang, Shandong province. The 41st Weifang International Kite Festival and the 2024 Weifang Kite Carnival kicked off in Weifang, East China's Shandong province on April 19. The opening ceremony of the 41st Weifang International Kite Festival and the 2024 Weifang Kite Carnival is held in Weifang, Shandong …

First kite art festival takes flight in Hohhot
8 months, 2 weeks ago

First kite art festival takes flight in Hohhot

China Daily  

A kite art festival is held in Hohhot. Hohhot's inaugural Kite Art Festival launched on April 5 at Daheihe Military Culture Park. The park is divided into five main areas: the Kite Performance Zone, Free Flying Zone, Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Zone, Commercial Interaction Zone, and Food Train Zone. Visitors can find free parking at the South Gate Entrance of …

First kite art festival takes flight in Hohhot
8 months, 2 weeks ago

First kite art festival takes flight in Hohhot

China Daily  

A kite art festival is held in Hohhot. Hohhot's inaugural Kite Art Festival launched on April 5 at Daheihe Military Culture Park. The park is divided into five main areas: the Kite Performance Zone, Free Flying Zone, Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Zone, Commercial Interaction Zone, and Food Train Zone. Visitors can find free parking at the South Gate Entrance of …

Tianjin's intangible cultural heritage shines in Hong Kong
9 months ago

Tianjin's intangible cultural heritage shines in Hong Kong

China Daily  

Wei Guoqiu, the inheritor of Wei's Kite, a renowned intangible cultural heritage from Tianjin, explained the kite techniques at The Chinese Cultural Festival at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University on March 14. The Chinese Culture Festival opened recently at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. At the invitation of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Tiangong …

Tianjin's intangible cultural heritage shines in Hong Kong
9 months ago

Tianjin's intangible cultural heritage shines in Hong Kong

China Daily  

Wei Guoqiu, the inheritor of Wei's Kite, a renowned intangible cultural heritage from Tianjin, explained the kite techniques at The Chinese Cultural Festival at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University on March 14. The Chinese Culture Festival opened recently at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. At the invitation of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Tiangong …

Tianjin's intangible cultural heritage shines in Hong Kong
9 months ago

Tianjin's intangible cultural heritage shines in Hong Kong

China Daily  

Wei Guoqiu, the inheritor of Wei's Kite, a renowned intangible cultural heritage from Tianjin, explained the kite techniques at The Chinese Cultural Festival at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University on March 14. The Chinese Culture Festival opened recently at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. At the invitation of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Tiangong …

Tianjin's intangible cultural heritage shines in Hong Kong
9 months ago

Tianjin's intangible cultural heritage shines in Hong Kong

China Daily  

Wei Guoqiu, the inheritor of Wei's Kite, a renowned intangible cultural heritage from Tianjin, explained the kite techniques at The Chinese Cultural Festival at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University on March 14. The Chinese Culture Festival opened recently at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. At the invitation of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Tiangong …

Video: Weifang's traditional culture
10 months, 2 weeks ago

Video: Weifang's traditional culture

China Daily  

Learn about traditional culture of Weifang, Shandong province with international students in this video. Renowned as the "City of Kites," Weifang's traditional culture is deeply rooted in its history, customs, and arts. One of the most iconic aspects of Weifang's traditional culture is its long-standing association with kite-making and flying. In addition to its artistic and culinary traditions, Weifang's traditional …

Sales of dragon-themed goods boom in Shandong
10 months, 2 weeks ago

Sales of dragon-themed goods boom in Shandong

China Daily  

Workers make dragon-themed kites in a factory in Wangjiazhuangzi village in Weifang, Shandong. Dragon-themed products are experiencing a surge in popularity as the Year of the Dragon approaches, with a wide range of items such as food, fashion and traditional crafts featuring the mythical beast captivating consumers. "Bobo decorated with dragon elements have become a hit among consumers, with one …

'Kite capital' flies high on modernization and heritage
10 months, 3 weeks ago

'Kite capital' flies high on modernization and heritage

China Daily  

Kites fly in the wind at a large square in Weifang, Shandong province. JINAN — In a workshop at the Yangjiabu Folk Art Grand View Garden in Weifang, Shandong province, workers are busy making kites. Xu Yang, an inheritor of Weifang kite art, developed a passion for the craft as a child and learned to make and paint kites at …

'Kite capital' flies high on modernization and heritage
10 months, 3 weeks ago

'Kite capital' flies high on modernization and heritage

China Daily  

Kites fly in the wind at a large square in Weifang, Shandong province. JINAN — In a workshop at the Yangjiabu Folk Art Grand View Garden in Weifang, Shandong province, workers are busy making kites. Xu Yang, an inheritor of Weifang kite art, developed a passion for the craft as a child and learned to make and paint kites at …

A pictorial journey through natural, cultural splendor of Yangtze River
1 year ago

A pictorial journey through natural, cultural splendor of Yangtze River

China Daily  

A photography exhibition themed on the Yangtze River conservation is being held at the Jingang Cultural Center in Zhangjiagang from Nov 13 to mid-December. Curated from the works of over 150 renowned photographers, the exhibition presents a panoramic view of the Yangtze River basin, capturing its natural beauty, development achievements, and rich cultural heritage. A photo of the Three Gorges …

Kite maker preserves cultural heritage for decades
1 year, 5 months ago

Kite maker preserves cultural heritage for decades

China Daily  

Shao Guoqiang, a 85-year-old kite artisan, teaches children kite-making techniques at a kite exhibition held in Ningbo, Zhejiang province. Driven by his love for kite making, Shao Guoqiang, an 85-year-old artisan in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, has spent over 20 years making hundreds of kites. "When I was a child, I liked to watch other children flying kites," said Shao, who …

Photographer preserves cultural heritages through lens
1 year, 5 months ago

Photographer preserves cultural heritages through lens

China Daily  

Weifang kite making technique is a national intangible cultural heritage item in Shandong province. The photo series, titled "Guarding Spiritual Home", serves as a comprehensive documentation of the intangible cultural heritage items and their representative inheritors in Weifang, Shandong province. Over the past 20 years, the photographer has used his camera to narrate more than 30 stories about intangible cultural …

Explore museums in Shandong
1 year, 7 months ago

Explore museums in Shandong

China Daily  

Polaris Horologe Culture Museum The Polaris Horologe Culture Museum is the first museum in China themed on clocks and watches. The museum's exhibits are mainly related to the evolution of ancient Chinese timekeeping instruments and the development of the Yantai clock and watch industry. Linzi Football Museum The Linzi Football Museum covers an area of 2,500 square meters and exhibits …

Kites rise to festive occasion
1 year, 7 months ago

Kites rise to festive occasion

China Daily  

Kites in all shapes and sizes dot the sky on April 16 during the 40th Weifang International Kite Festival in Weifang, Shandong province. The 40th Weifang International Kite Festival attracted more than 150 teams from 59 countries and regions, who sent their kites skyward for the opening ceremony on April 15. Wang Yongxun, an experienced kite maker in Weifang, attended …

Kites rise to festive occasion
1 year, 7 months ago

Kites rise to festive occasion

China Daily  

Skills inherited Yang Hongwei, 57, is a leading inheritor of the city's tradition. Zhang Jianwei, director of the comprehensive service center at the Weifang International Kite Association, said, "The city's kites account for more than 75 percent of the international kite market and nearly 85 percent of the domestic market." Wangjiazhuangzi village in Weifang is known as the "No 1 …

Kites rise to festive occasion
1 year, 7 months ago

Kites rise to festive occasion

China Daily  

Visitors look to the skies at the kite festival in Weifang, Shandong. LI ZIHENG/XINHUA High-tech designs Sobraj Al Akand, who comes from Bangladesh, said: "We saw traditional kites, such as those designed like a dragon to represent China, and some really high-tech designs. Kites have been flown in Weifang, widely known as the world's kite capital, for about 2,400 years. …

Kites rise to festive occasion
1 year, 7 months ago

Kites rise to festive occasion

China Daily  

Kites in all shapes and sizes dot the sky on April 16 during the 40th Weifang International Kite Festival in Weifang, Shandong province. The 40th Weifang International Kite Festival attracted more than 150 teams from 59 countries and regions, who sent their kites skyward for the opening ceremony on April 15. Wang Yongxun, an experienced kite maker in Weifang, attended …

Kites rise to festive occasion
1 year, 7 months ago

Kites rise to festive occasion

China Daily  

Skills inherited Yang Hongwei, 57, is a leading inheritor of the city's tradition. Zhang Jianwei, director of the comprehensive service center at the Weifang International Kite Association, said, "The city's kites account for more than 75 percent of the international kite market and nearly 85 percent of the domestic market." Wangjiazhuangzi village in Weifang is known as the "No 1 …

Kites rise to festive occasion
1 year, 7 months ago

Kites rise to festive occasion

China Daily  

High-tech designs Sobraj Al Akand, who comes from Bangladesh, said: "We saw traditional kites, such as those designed like a dragon to represent China, and some really high-tech designs. Kites have been flown in Weifang, widely known as the world's kite capital, for about 2,400 years. Legend has it that ancient Chinese philosopher Mozi, who was also known for his …

Cultural appreciation soars high at Weifang kite festival
1 year, 8 months ago

Cultural appreciation soars high at Weifang kite festival

China Daily  

The Chinese novelist Lu Xun, author of the book, The Kite, penned the adage, "…give him a kite, approve of his flying it, urge him to fly it, and fly it with him. Lu Xun's quote about flying a kite, despite depicting his reminiscence of childhood regret to his little brother, also expresses the positive experience of kite-flying, which is …

Art, culture and community take flight at Weifang intl kite festival
1 year, 8 months ago

Art, culture and community take flight at Weifang intl kite festival

China Daily  

The group shares their artworks crafted at Yangjiabu, Weifang in Shandong province,on April 15. Thousands of kites colored the sky in Weifang during its annual international kite festival on April 15, attracting multitudes of visitors from home and abroad. Among them were 11 international journalists and social media influencers, who gathered in Weifang city, known as the "World Kite Capital," …

Kite festival kicks off in Weifang
1 year, 8 months ago

Kite festival kicks off in Weifang

China Daily  

The 40th Weifang International Kite Festival opens on April 15. The 40th Weifang International Kite Festival and 19th World Kite Championship kicked off on April 15 in Weifang, East China's Shandong province. Running from April 15 to May 20, the ongoing 40th Weifang International Kite Festival features a hybrid of online and offline events, including a range of activities like …

Weifang rides the wind at intl kite festival
1 year, 8 months ago

Weifang rides the wind at intl kite festival

China Daily  

The 40th Weifang International Kite Festival kicked off on April 15 at the Binhai International Kite Flying Field in Shandong province's Weifang city, which is also known as the World Kite Capital. The opening ceremony of the 40th Weifang International Kite Festival is held on April 15 at the Binhai International Kite Flying Field in Weifang, Shandong province. Kite enthusiasts …

'City of Kites' to host annual intl festival
1 year, 8 months ago

'City of Kites' to host annual intl festival

China Daily  

A photo of the previous edition of the Weifang International Kite Festival Known as the "City of Kites", Weifang, Shandong province will kick off the 40th International Kite Festival at the International Kite Flying Field in Binhai district on April 15, providing a platform for opening-up and economic exchanges, as well as creating an international gala featuring traditional cultures and …

World kite festival to take flight in China's Weifang city
1 year, 8 months ago

World kite festival to take flight in China's Weifang city

China Daily  

The 40th Weifang International Kite Festival will take flight on April 15 in Weifang city, in East China's Shandong province, with a series of kite-flying competitions and thrilling activities planned. The organizers will also prepare blind boxes of all kinds of Weifang's cultural and creative products and handicrafts and distribute 500 to 1,000 boxes per day to netizens from April …

Art in the sky: Kites first took off in China over two millennia ago
1 year, 9 months ago

Art in the sky: Kites first took off in China over two millennia ago

China Daily  

Kites are flown during a competition to celebrate the launch of the ninth edition of the national public ice and snow season in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, on Dec 24. ZHANG SHU/FOR CHINA DAILY Orcas, horses, dragons, the Monkey King from Chinese legend, skeletons, and even SpongeBob SquarePants - you probably wouldn't expect to see this collection of animals, mythological creatures, …

'Kite capital' Weifang promotes tourism in Shanghai
1 year, 10 months ago

'Kite capital' Weifang promotes tourism in Shanghai

China Daily  

Weifang, with a history of more than 8,000 years and being widely regarded as the world's "kite capital", promoted the city's unique culture and tourism resources in Shanghai on Feb 9. Di Bo, vice-mayor of Weifang, invited Shanghai residents to take leisure vacations in Weifang and welcomed Shanghai entrepreneurs to invest and start businesses in the city. The city's iconic …

Shandong seaside tour: experience the leisurely life between the mountains and the sea
2 years, 3 months ago

Shandong seaside tour: experience the leisurely life between the mountains and the sea

China Daily  

Weifang: The City of Kites Weifang is renowned throughout the world as the “City of Kites”. The Weifang World Kite Museum is replete with all sorts of kites and kite-making information. Notably, the annual Weifang International Kite Festival is held here every late April. There are more than 120 ancient streets and many traditional residences, as well as a range …

Shandong seaside tour: experience the leisurely life between the mountains and the sea
2 years, 3 months ago

Shandong seaside tour: experience the leisurely life between the mountains and the sea

China Daily  

Weifang: The City of Kites Weifang is renowned throughout the world as the “City of Kites”. The Weifang World Kite Museum is replete with all sorts of kites and kite-making information. Notably, the annual Weifang International Kite Festival is held here every late April. There are more than 120 ancient streets and many traditional residences, as well as a range …

World kite capital soars with its rich heritage
2 years, 6 months ago

World kite capital soars with its rich heritage

The Independent  

In April, crowds in Weifang, Shandong province, looked to the skies in awe. At Weifang Kaixuan Kite Manufacturing Co, workers make kites ranging from gleaming aircraft and beautiful landscape paintings to lifelike marine creatures such as whales and octopuses. Foreigners know it as the kite capital of the world, and our products are very popular with them.” A kite in …

UNESCO adds Weifang to Creative Cities Network
3 years, 1 month ago

UNESCO adds Weifang to Creative Cities Network

China Daily  

Tourists visit a scenic area in Weifang, Shandong province on Oct 5. Weifang, Shandong province, has been added to UNESCO's Creative Cities Network as a Crafts and Folk Arts City, becoming the latest Chinese city in the group. Among the city's 17 national-level intangible cultural heritages, 10 are crafts and folk arts, such as kite-making techniques and woodblock New Year …

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