40th Weifang International Kite Festival takes to the skies

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Kites of all shapes and sizes take to the skies during the 40th Weifang International Kite Festival in east China's Shandong Province, on April 15, 2023. /CFP

Hundreds of kite lovers from around the world have been chasing the winds over Shandong, as a brand-new edition of the Weifang International Kite Festival took to the skies on Saturday in China's "kite capital."

Kites of all shapes and sizes take to the skies during the 40th Weifang International Kite Festival in east China's Shandong Province, on April 15, 2023. /CFP

Running from April 15 to May 20, the ongoing 40th Weifang International Kite Festival is a hybrid of online and offline events, including a range of activities, from lantern and firework shows, musical performances, food fairs serving local delicacies, to its most thrilling part – a series of kite-flying competitions where over 400 enthusiasts from around 60 countries and regions test their skills and show off the creativity behind their colorful kite displays.

Kites of all shapes and sizes take to the skies during the 40th Weifang International Kite Festival in east China's Shandong Province, on April 15, 2023. /CFP

Meanwhile, kite lovers who are not able to attend in person can join an online competition by sharing their kite-flying videos via a WeChat mini-program. Presenting a metaverse version of the 40th Weifang International Kite Festival, this themed "sub-app" within the WeChat ecosystem allows visitors from across the world to embark on an immersive journey and explore the festival's virtual space.

Kites of all shapes and sizes take to the skies during the 40th Weifang International Kite Festival in east China's Shandong Province, on April 15, 2023. /CFP

Known as China's "kite capital," Weifang boasts a long history of manufacturing and flying kites and is endowed with a rich historical and cultural heritage. In a bid to better develop unique and time-honored traditional cultures, the Qilu Cultural (Weifang) Ecological Protection Zone was designated in 2019 by China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Kites of all shapes and sizes take to the skies during the 40th Weifang International Kite Festival in east China's Shandong Province, on April 15, 2023. /CFP