Known as the birthplace (发源地) of kites. Weifang in Shandong Province has a long history of making kites. Made from bamboo and decorated with traditional Chinese paintings. Weifang kite-making was included in the national-level intangible cultural heritage (国家级非物质文化遗产) lists in 2006. The International Kite Festival has been held in Weifang every year since 1984.
Yang Hongwei, 56, is an inheritor (传承人) of Weifang kite-making skill. She was born in a kite-making family. Yang often saw kites with bright colors and different shapes in her grandfather's workshop.
Having a special connection with kites. Yang learned the skill from her grandfather at the age of 16. After practising the skill for 10 years, she started her own shop in 1992.
In her free time, she also travels to different countries including Germany, Australia, the US and New Zealand to tell people about Chinese stories seen on kites and the traditional ways of making kites. "I'm an inheritor of the culture. It is also an important job of mine to spread the Chinese culture around the world." she said.
