International Kite Festival

Weifang is the hometown of kites with a long history of kite culture. More than 2,400 years ago, Lu Ban, a skilled master craftsman in Weifang, made and flew up successfully the world’s first kite. In Ming and Qing dynasties of China, kite flying became popular among people in Weifang. Zheng Banqiao, who was the county magistrate of Weixian (now the city of Weifang), vividly depicted the scene of kite flying during Qingming festival in his poem Memory of Weixian. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the kite culture of Weifang was further developed and promoted. In May 2006, the skill of Weifang kite-making was approved by the State Council of China to be included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage.

Weifang International Kite Festival is the earliest comprehensive and international major local festival in China. From April 1st to 3rd, 1984, the 1st Weifang International Kite Festival was held in Weifang, 18 kite teams from 11 countries and regions were invited to Weifang for flying performances, and the festival achieved great success. Since then, the Weifang International Kite Festival has been held once a year, co-sponsored by General Administration of Sport of China, International Kite Federation and Weifang Municipal People's Government. It has been successfully held 36 sessions so far. Since last year, the opening date of the kite festival has been changed to the third Saturday of April every year.

On April 1st, 1988, during the 5th Weifang International Kite Festival, Weifang was unanimously recommended as the “Kite Capital of the World” by representatives of kite associations of many different countries.

On April 1st, 1989, with the approval of the State Council of China, the International Kite Federation was established in Weifang, and the headquarters was located in Weifang. The founding committee consisted of 16 member countries and regions, while the federation consisted of 67 member countries and regions of the world.

The leaders of the Weifang Municipal Party Committee and the Municipal Government have attached great importance to running the Weifang International Kite Festival, taking it as an important way to promote the city of Weifang, display the city image, and shape the city brand.

Weifang International Kite Festival is a comprehensive and international event that integrates the four major sections of kite, culture, tourism and investment promotion.

Kite section. The world’s largest 10,000-people kite flying show, the World Kite Championship, the Weifang Kite Competition and other branded events have been created.

Culture section. In addition to carrying out a variety of folk cultural activities and performances, in recent years, it has effectively created the events such as Chinese Painting Festival and Cultural Expo.

Tourism section. After the early launch of the five-hundred-mile folk tour route, in recent years, with the kite festival as the leader, Weifang Tourism Festival has been successfully held for 7 times in succession.

Investment section. During each kite festival, various exhibitions, promotion conferences and trade fairs attracted a large number of Chinese and foreign merchants to Weifang. In recent years, during each kite festival, a large number of key investment projects have been negotiated and signed, with the total signed contract amount of over 30 billion yuan during each kite festival.

Weifang International Kite Festival has attracted the participation of kite flying teams from dozens of countries and regions of the world every year. In recent years, Weifang kite culture exhibitions have been held in such countries and regions like France, Malaysia, Canada, ROK, Trinidad and Tobago, etc.

The Weifang kite and the international kite festival have become the bright name card for Weifang to the world, the most valuable and influential city brand of Weifang, a window for Weifang to open to the outside world, a platform for cooperation and development, and a grand festival for the people of the city to celebrate.

In 2004, the Weifang International Kite Association was awarded as the Special Contribution Award for Kite Sports by General Administration of Sport of China; in 2005, it was included in the Intangible Cultural Heritage and Project of Folk Art Protection by the UNESCO Folk Art Organization, and was awarded by the International Festival Organization as Top Ten Festivals with the Most International Influence; in 2008, it was rated as one of the 30 Most Concerned Festivals in the 30 Years of Reform and Opening up by the People’s Daily and people.com.cn; in April 2011, it was awarded by the China Society of Urban Economy as the Innovation Achievement Award of City Brand. In May 2011, it was rated as one of the Top-10 Chinese Brand Festivals in 2011 by People’s Daily and people.com.cn; in September 2011, Weifang was rated as the Most Attractive Festival City in China by the National Ethnic Affairs Commission and the International Festivals & Events Association. In November 2012, it was awarded the Golden Finger Award of 2012 China Festival Industry at the Annual Conference of China Festival Industry.