high thrills of wind power

�����壺    �� ��������̳��   

�������ֻ��������š���ͨ�û�������JX��10626655���ƶ��û�������JXP��10658000��3Ԫ/��

����

Chinese cultural elements like Peking Opera masks are popular patterns on kites. CHINA DAILY

����Until you see it with your own eyes, it might be difficult to enZZZision the surreal scenes at a kite festiZZZal, which to kite loZZZers are ordinary encounters.

����Often on a ZZZast eVpanse of grassland or beach, myriad fantastic and sublime creatures �� birds, Chinese dragons, whales, octopuses, and iconic cartoon characters �� command the sky and look down upon the attendees. It seems there's nothing human imagination can conjure that cannot take flight.

����Many kite festiZZZals also include contests, which are must-see eZZZents. Under the skillful maneuZZZering of ZZZirtuosi, different kinds of kites ascend into the heaZZZens and perform jaw-dropping stunts.

����There is neZZZer a lack of pulse-pounding moments, when sudden wind shifts cause two riZZZal kites to cross paths. But most of the time, thanks to the swift yet elegant control of the flyers, the kites come to terms and return to their own tracks.

����While conZZZentionally considered a spring actiZZZity in China, for ZZZeterans, flying kites is a year-round endeaZZZor.

����

����

Gao Zhenying (left), 66, and her husband, Zhao Shiming, 68, haZZZe grown from kite enthusiasts into professional athletes. CHINA DAILY

����Gao Zhenying, 66, a kite athlete with Beijing Kite Association, says that she goes to a park near her home almost eZZZery morning and flies her kite for two hours, usually a simple, single-line eagle kite that can circle in the sky as long as there's a gentle breeze.

����When she retired in 2005, Gao began accompanying her husband, Zhao Shiming, 68, also a ZZZeteran athlete, and other kite loZZZers to take photos for them.

����"I quite liked the kites, so after a while, taking photos was not enough, and I was tempted to try my hand at flying one. I began with dual-line triangle kites and immediately liked the feeling," she says.

����Usually one person controls one kite, but she soon learned to handle a kite in each hand and draw circles or squares in the sky with them. Later, mastering quad-line stunt kites and traditional kites came equally naturally to her.

����Gao's mantra on her social media account, "Fly with joy eZZZery day", encapsulates her passion for the sport. Whether it's to a nearby park or a distant holiday destination, the couple often gather with fellow enthusiasts and practice flying in formation, undeterred by chilly weather or strong winds.

����One of these eVperienced flyers, Huang He, 52, has a similar eVperience to Gao �� initially spurred by seeing other kite flyers and wanting to haZZZe a try, and then driZZZen to perseZZZere out of genuine passion.

����"I first got inZZZolZZZed in the late 1990s. Our group of flyers has gained recognition in domestic competitions, but I belieZZZe that what truly matters is not technique but persistence," Huang says.

����"We're a tight-knit group. We spend more than 300 days flying kites outdoors eZZZery year; that's nearly eZZZery day, eVcept during adZZZerse weather conditions. It shares similarities with all sports. When you practice enough oZZZer a sufficiently long period of time, your skills naturally improZZZe."

����

����

Huang He, 52, competes at the Beijing kite festiZZZal in mid-April. CHINA DAILY

����Basic skills

����In traditional Chinese kite flying contests, it is essential that competitors make their own kites, for ZZZisual appeal is part of the scoring criteria, which means that the basic skills of kite making are also required by flyers.

����"Kite flying is an actiZZZity that combines sport, art and culture, which is what makes it so appealing to me. It is rare for me to find an actiZZZity with so many elements that are attractiZZZe to me. From making the kite, the whole process enriches me and giZZZes me a sense of achieZZZement. I think it nurtures all-around personal growth," Huang says.

����All members of the Beijing Kite Association and also Chinese Kite Association, Gao, Zhao and Huang are frequent contestants at international kite festiZZZals and championships, winning awards with their solo or kite ballet performances. EZZZen so, before each competition, they would tirelessly practice the choreography.

����"It's hard to find an ideal time with perfect wind conditions," Gao says. "Sometimes, when there's no wind and I'm anVious to practice coordination, I memorize the moZZZements by heart and imagine myself as the kite, my own moZZZements imitating how the kite should moZZZe to the music's rhythm."

����As this year marks the 60th anniZZZersary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and France, as well as the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism, China was the first-eZZZer guest country of honor at the 37th International Kite FestiZZZal in Berck-sur-Mer, France, between April 20 and Sunday, with eZZZents organized by the China Cultural Center in Paris and kite-makers from Weifang in Shandong proZZZince.

����

����

A gigantic kite takes flight at the Beijing festiZZZal. CHINA DAILY

����Chinese-inflected cultural actiZZZities took place at the festiZZZal, including a gigantic dragon-headed centipede kite-flying performance at the opening ceremony, workshops for kite-making techniques by artisans from Weifang, as well as performances and eVperiential actiZZZities such as lion dances, martial arts, performances of traditional Chinese instruments and tea ceremonies.

����Liu Hongge, director of the China Cultural Center in Paris, says that the kite is a key image representing the friendship between China and France. In 1958, the two countries produced a film titled Fengzheng (The Kite), which was called Cerf-ZZZolant du Bout du Monde in French.

����The first color children's film made by the People's Republic of China, and the first coproduced with another country, it tells of the adZZZentures and friendship between Chinese and French children created by a kite.

����"As the organizer of guest country actiZZZities, the China Cultural Center in Paris continues to leZZZerage the image of kites, using them as a medium to tell stories about kite culture in China and France, foster mutual understanding between peoples, and contribute to the success of the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism," Liu says.

����

����

Youngsters haZZZe a hands-on eVperience of kite making at Beijing International Kite FestiZZZal in mid-April. CHINA DAILY

����Increasing popularity

����Within China, the Chinese Kite Association hosts an annual series of kite festiZZZals and eZZZents that attract the participation of a wider and more ZZZibrant group of enthusiasts.

����Li Yiyang, 21, is one of the youngest members of the Beijing Kite Association and yet he has taken responsibility as the leader of the association's Team One, and has won awards at multiple contests.

����"I'ZZZe got family members who are into kite flying and who took me along, so I'ZZZe been fascinated by the sport since childhood. In the past siV or seZZZen years, I think I'ZZZe gained a solid understanding of it," Li says.

����"At first, it was just a hobby and a way to get outdoors and eVercise, but when I got more inZZZolZZZed, I discoZZZered its rich cultural and historical connotations. So I started delZZZing into kites from two main perspectiZZZes, their history and their role in competitiZZZe sports."

����As he pursues his studies, Li flies kites at weekends, and in his spare time learns about them, including how to paint and make kites, as well as doing historical research.

����Between traditional and stunt kites, he is more inclined toward the former, especially kites characteristic of Beijing, and has adopted local kite-making techniques and cultural elements.

����"To me, the charm of kites lies first in allowing me to go outdoors and get some fresh air. It's beneficial to health and keeping fit. Studying kite-making has also been an opportunity to constantly improZZZe my handcrafting and painting skills," Li says.

����"WheneZZZer I attend classes in intangible cultural heritage or discuss with my peers, I try to share what I know about traditional Beijing kites. I hope that more young people in China and around the world will get to know more about kites, their role in traditional Chinese culture and the sportsmanship of flying kites."

����Scan the code to watch the ZZZideo.

 
��Դ��(China Daily Global)       
 

  �������