Share
Print
A+
A-

Kite show sets the stage for spring

Writer: Debra Li  |  Editor: Lin Qiuying  |  From: Original  |  Updated: 2025-01-26

A huge kite is seen on the wall of Nantou City. Photos by Lin Songtao

Against the backdrop of the azure sky, a form of Chinese folk art has glided through history. 

Originating in Chinaaround 3,000 years ago, the earliest kites were crafted from silk and bamboo. 

Overtime, the practice of kite flying spread throughout the world and became apopular pastime in many countries. Today, kites take various shapes andmaterials, used both in sports and for fun.

Red lanterns bring a festive mood to Nantou City.

Running until Feb. 12, Shenzhen’s NantouAncient Town, rebranded as Nantou City, invites visitors to a public artshowcase celebrating kites, a Chinese cultural heritage with regionalvariations across the country.

Kites are seen everywhere at the venue.

Adorning the south and east walls of NantouCity are huge kites amidst smaller counterparts and lanterns, in bothtraditional and contemporary 3D designs. Within the Baode Plaza and ShuyuanPlaza, avant-garde kites provide a glimpse into the modern evolution of thisancient art form.

5b913136d9f8461784d846b4255d4ce9.jpg

Kites are deconstructed and reinvented as modern installments that decorate Nantou City.

Located in a historical hall at the heartof Nantou City, an exhibition elucidates the origins, craftsmanship, andcontemporary adaptations of kites.

A corner of Nantou City.

One segment highlights Beijing's iconickites, offering insight into the art of kite-making in a book compiled by CaoXueqin, the renowned author of “Dream of the Red Chamber.”

be06385e8d6739abda7bf951c7d875d4.jpg

A typical Beijing kite.

Other sections educate visitors on therudiments of creating and flying kites, and feature a diverse array of bothtraditional and innovative designs from around the globe. Guests can also delveinto the rich tapestry of kite culture in China, tracing its evolution over aremarkable 3,000-year history.

A kite from Yunnan Province, Southwest China.

Time: Until Feb. 12

Venue: Nantou City, Nanshan District

Metro: Line 12 to Zhongshan Park Station,Exit D; Line 12 to Nantou Ancient City Station, Exit C


Against the backdrop of the azure sky, a form of Chinese folk art has glided through history. Overtime, the practice of kite flying spread throughout the world and became apopular pastime in many countries. Today, kites take various shapes andmaterials, used both in sports and for fun.