With a 40-year history of formation and development, the Weifang International Kite Festival, in Shandong Province of China, has been assessed as the world's largest kite cultural event. This year's festival attracted the participation of more than 600 kite enthusiasts from nearly 60 countries and territories, including Vietnam.
An overview of the Weifang International Kite Festival.
Weifang International Kite Festival
On April 15, the 40th Weifang International Kite Festival and the 19th International Kite Competition, officially opened in Weifang City, Shandong Province.
The competition at the festival (Photo: TAN)
More than 600 kite enthusiasts from 59 countries and regions such as Vietnam, the US, Russia, Germany and Canada, introduced their most beautiful kites.
Young women wear traditional costumes at the festival. (Photo: HUU HUNG)
According to Liu Jianbei, Vice President of the International Kite Federation and President of the China Kite Association, after 40 years the International Kite Festival has become the most valuable and influential brand of Weifang City and a friendship bridge, to promote cultural exchanges among countries and territories around the world.
Viewers also prepare themselves kites. (Photo: HO QUAN)
This year's festival takes place in both offline and online forms. From now until April 21, in addition to the traditional kite performances and competition events, the organisers also launched an "online kite contest", displaying and introducing traditional kite culture through digital platforms, attracting a wide range of Chinese and international viewers.
A kite stands out in the air. (Photo: HUU HUNG)
In China, Weifang is considered the cradle of kite culture, with a history of more than 2,400 years since the first kite was created and released into the air.
The kites from China and other foreign countries are on display at the Weifang Kite Museum. (Photo: HUU HUNG)
Weifang International Kite Festival has contributed to preserving and promoting traditional culture, building and raising the brand of kite culture, with the promotion of crafting techniques.
The opening ceremony features traditional theatre performances. (Photo: TAN)
Kite culture has also contributed to the development of the kite economy. Weifang City has more than 600 businesses and more than 80,000 people working in kite-related industries, achieving sales of more than 2 billion yuan per year,
Preparations before releasing the kites. (Photo: HUU HUNG)
Imprints of Vietnam
Vietnam is one of 59 countries and territories participating in this year’s Weifang International Kite Festival. In the introduction of the countries participating in the festival, the organisers assessed that Vietnam has many diverse and rich types of traditional kites, with unique shapes. In particular, flute kite flying was honoured and recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage.
Nguyen Phu Quoc from Da Nang Kite Club and Vietnamese students attend the festival. (Photo: HUU HUNG)
Nguyen Phu Quoc from the Da Nang Kite Club introduced the kites imbued with Vietnamese cultural identities, including flute kites and kites with the image of a red flag and yellow star.
The kite with the image of a yellow star on the background of a red flag. (Photo: HO QUAN)
Quoc said he had attended many kite festivals in many countries such as India, Indonesia and Malaysia, but Weifang International Kite Festival can be considered the event with the largest scale, both in terms of the number of attendees, the level of investment in venues and spaces, and the participating countries and territories.
The Vietnamese representative is flying kites along with international friends. (Photo: HUU HUNG)
Nguyen Anh Quoc noted that he will make efforts to promote the unique traditional kite culture and the image of the peaceful land, and the friendly and hospitable people of Vietnam, to international friends.
Vietnamese kite flutes are introduced at the festival. (Photo: HUU HUNG)
At the festival, Vietnamese flute kites received great attention from audiences and kite enthusiasts from all over the world.
