Thousands of kites filled the sky at an international kite festival in Fanoe in Denmark on June 18.

As one of the largest of its kind in Europe, the annual Fanoe International Kite Festival is being held on an island off Denmark's west coast, attracting over 5,000 kite enthusiasts from around the world.

China, the birthplace of kites, was this year's guest of honour. The Association of China to Fanoe invited 25 skilled kite makers from China, aiming to showcase the unique craftsmanship and cultural heritage embedded in these delicate artworks.

Poul Therkelsen, Project manager of the Association of China to Fanoe, expressed his excitement over the inclusion of Chinese kites. "We have invited 25 kite makers because China is the birthplace of the kite and we are one of the biggest kite festivals in the world. We think this is the year when we want to show the world how Chinese kites are made."

Kite enthusiast Andreas Aagren from Sweden was particularly thrilled by the presence of Chinese kite makers. "Few people have the chance to go to China and watch them. To have all these 25 kite makers coming here and giving more people a chance to watch them closely, especially to see the exquisite bamboo work, is truly a unique experience."

Leng Shixiang, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Kite Association, shared his lifelong passion for kite making, a tradition that requires patience, diligence, and creativity. "I developed an enthusiasm for kites when I was a teenager. However, after I learned how to make kites, it still took me over ten years to make well-crafted kites. For now, it has been sixty years since I started making kites."

Secretary-General of the Chinese Kite Association, Hou Qiuling, beautifully summarized the symbolic meaning of flying a kite, "I think a good kite embodies people's expectations for an ideal life. That is to say, flying a kite evokes expectations for an even more fulfilling life, just like a kite soaring high."

As Chinese kites danced in the wind against the backdrop of Fanoe's sandy beaches and green dunes, the festival not only promoted a sense of global unity among kite enthusiasts but also provided a platform to appreciate the rich cultural heritage that these kites represent.

STORY: Chinese kites get warm welcome at Denmark's Int'l Kite Festival
DATELINE: June 18, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:35
LOCATION: Copenhagen
CATEGORY: SOCIETY/CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the kites at the Fanoe International Kite Festival
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): POUL THERKELSEN, Project manager of the Association of China to Fanoe
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ANDREAS AAGREN, Kite enthusiast from Sweden
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): LENG SHIXIANG, Vice Chairman of Chinese Kite Association
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): HOU QIULING, Secretary General of Chinese Kite Association

STORYLINE:

Traditional Chinese kites received a warm welcome during the kite festival held at Fanoe, Denmark.

As one of the largest of its kind in Europe, the annual Fanoe International Kite Festival is being held on an island off Denmark's west coast, attracting over 5,000 kite enthusiasts from around the world.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): POUL THERKELSEN, Project manager of the Association of China to Fanoe
"We have invited 25 kite makers because China is the birthplace of the kite and we are (one of) the biggest kite festivals in the world, so we think this is the year when we want to show the world how Chinese kites are."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ANDREAS AAGREN, Kite enthusiast from Sweden
"Few people have the chance to go to China and watch them so to get all these 25 kite makers coming here and have a lot of people, more people, a chance to watch them closely. I mean to see the exquisite bamboo work."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): LENG SHIXIANG, Vice Chairman of Chinese Kite Association
"I developed enthusiasm for kites when I was young, when I was a teenager. However, after I learned how to make kites, it still took me over ten years to make well-crafted kites. For now, it has been sixty years since I started making kites."

SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): HOU QIULING, Secretary General of Chinese Kite Association
"I think a good kite will embody people's expectations for an ideal life. That is to say, flying a kite will evoke expectations for an even more fulfilling life, just like a kite soaring high."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Copenhagen.
(XHTV)