Let the kites fly

The 2023 National Kite Elite Competition (Rui'an Station) kicked off in Caocun town of Rui'an, a county-level city in Wenzhou, on April 11, local media outlets reported.

During the two-day event, 25 teams from all over the country, consisting of 117 athletes and 314 kites, participated in the competition.

The competition was divided into traditional, modern, and performance categories, with the traditional section featuring dragon kites and string kites, while the modern section included power kites and luminous kites. The performance category was represented by traditional kite exhibitions and kite performances with distinctive local characteristics. Awards were given based on both team and individual rankings.

The unique and diverse kites were breathtaking in their own right. For example, during the kite performance section, kites by several teams soared into the sky at simultaneously, with large, colorful octopus kites swaying in the wind.

Caocun is a Chinese Kite Flying Base, and this was the third year the national kite elite competition has been held in the town.

Kites are not only an intangible cultural heritage item, but also a popular traditional folk sport and fitness activity. (ZhongXin)