WEIFANG -- Over 600 kite enthusiasts from 60 countries and regions are showcasing their designs and skills at the 40th Weifang International Kite Festival, which kicked off on April 15 in the "kite capital" of Weifang City in east China's Shandong Province.

Weifang is a city boasting a long history of kite handicraft and won the title of Kite Capital back in 1988. More than 70 percent of the world's kites are made in Weifang.

Colorful kites in the sky are a hallmark of China's Qingming Festival or Tomb-sweeping Day, which is a time-honored traditional event where families pay tribute to the deceased and worship their ancestors, falling on April 5 this year.

The tradition of flying kites in China has existed for more than 2,000 years. Around Qingming, the weather is pleasant and it's a good time to head outdoors to fly a kite.

The kite designs often reflect elements of folk life and aesthetics, embodying the inheritance of Chinese culture.
Dr. Hans P. Boehme, vice president of International Kite Federation, who is from Germany, has had a passion for kites since he was a child. The 69-year-old man has attended the kite festival in Weifang at least 20 times.

"I love traditional kites. Not only Chinese ones, but also traditional kites from all kinds of countries. But the most colorful and the most specific ones are from China. And China has the oldest kite tradition, so it's more interesting than all those ones on the globe," Hans said.

Andreas Agren, 75-year-old, has been designing and flying kites for more than three decades. The Swedish man has been coming to the kite festival in China almost every year since 2001.

"I make kites from ideas that pop up in my head. So, my kites are always a little bit different from other people's kites. And I'm a little bit of an engineer, so I put a lot of engineering thinking in my kites," Agren said.

There are prizes for the most creative kite, the largest kite and the most traditional kite over the festival.

"While promoting and popularizing kites, we also promote the Chinese culture to the world, as Weifang's kites are getting more and more famous in the world," said Liu Zhiping, director of Competition Committee of the 19th World Kite Championships.

The annual event will last until May 21.