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

The group shares their artworks crafted at Yangjiabu, Weifang in Shandong province,on April 15. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

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," in Shandong province to set off a cultural excursion.

After admiring art performances at the opening ceremony, the expats were amazed by the spectacle of various kites that decorated the sky and conveyed good wishes and blessings.

Sobraj Al Akand, a popular blogger from Bangladesh, said proudly while pointing at the kites,"these are kites brought by competitors of my country, which has taken part in the stage for many years."

As it is his first time to have been to Weifang and the festival, Sobraj has much to look forward to.

International journalists and internet influencers pose for a group photo at the World Kite Museum in Weifang, Shandong province, on April 15. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

"This is a friendly and quiet city with great infrastructure, and the grand event plays a significant role in making Weifang and even China more well-known around the world,"he said.

For him, when seeing kites in diverse designs and patterns, it is high time to witness the cultural diversity and community cohesion.

The group toured the World Kite Museum, where they appreciated an exhibition of dozens of kites crafted and designed from all over the world and learned about the historical stories behind the kite-making process.

"I prefer to explore different cultures and experiences, and I didn't expect to see so many kites here," said Federio Furlan, an internet influencer from Italy, while he was lingering on the kite culture during his visit.

Walking down to the Yangjiabu Folk Art Grand View Garden, the group was enchanted by New Year paintings and experienced the process of making delicate artwork.

They also paid a visit to Guo Hongli, the inheritor of national intangible cultural heritage Weifang Kite, and who has been working on handmade kites for more than three decades.