Kite festival takes wing in Yixing

Competitors fly a huge kite over grassland during a kite festival in Zhoutie Town of Yixing on Oct 28. [Photo/wxrb.com]

The festival saw a total of 300 kite-flying whizzes from 10 countries including Russia, France, Ukraine and Spain show off their skills.

Athletes from all over the world present their skills of flying kites in Taihu Lake Kite Festival. [Photo/chinanews.com]

Kite-flying is both a cultural and sports activity in China, which combines calligraphy and painting, production skills, fitness and entertainment and competition.

Zhoutie town has a long history and distinctive local culture of kite-flying.

In ancient times, kites flying in the sky acted as beacons guiding fishermen safely back home from Taihu Lake.

Now the skill of making kites has become part of Wuxi's intangible cultural heritage.

A kite museum and production base has even been built in Zhoutie town to exhibit kites from different regions of China and time periods, which each have their own unique characteristics.

During the festival, Zhoutie town was honored as the "Hometown of Chinese Kites" by China's General Administration of Sports.