Weifang International Kite Festival

Background

The Weifang International Kite Festival has been held every year since 1984; the first edition took place on April 1 that year. The International Kite Federation was founded in 1989 with its headquarters in Weifang, and Weifang kite-making has been inscribed on China's National Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Legend has it that Mozi made a wooden kite and Lu Ban later replaced the wood with bamboo, a story locals often tell about the origin of kites. The main venue is the Binhai International Kite Flying Field in the Weifang Binhai Economic-Technological Development Zone, in the Huanle Hai area. During the festival you can watch the World Kite Championship and mass kite flying, and giant shaped kites such as the dragon-head centipede are especially spectacular once airborne. There is also an opening gala with cultural performances, and the World Kite Museum and the Yangjiabu kite workshops are worth a side trip.

Local customs

• Watch the World Kite Championship and mass kite flying
• fly a kite yourself in the designated areas
• try kite making
• visit the World Kite Museum and the Yangjiabu kite workshops
• see the opening gala and cultural performances

Travel tips

• The festival usually opens in mid to late April, in recent years mostly around the third Saturday of April (the 42nd edition opened on April 19, 2025), and lasts several days
• the 2027 schedule is subject to official announcement. The Binhai International Kite Flying Field is in the Binhai development zone, some distance from central Weifang, so plan your transport in advance
• accommodation is tight around the opening, so book early. Ticket prices are subject to official announcement.

2027 schedule

• Based on the custom of opening around the third Saturday of April, the 2027 festival is expected to open around April 17
• the exact schedule is pending official announcement.