Kite Festival, Fanoe, Denmark 2023

STORY

The world’s biggest International Kite Festival takes place under unique circumstances on Fanø on the west coast of Denmark.

A steady wind from the west keeps up to 20.000 kites in the air at this time of the year.

Fanø is situated in the North Sea, which exposes it to strong and consistent winds from the west passing the island’s flat terrain and dunes allowing for uninterrupted airflow.

For kite enthusiasts, it is the birthplace of kite flying in China.
The earliest evidence of the use of kites dates from around 770 BC in China.

The annual International kite festival was therefore proud because 25 of the most respected Chinese kite builders in the world are visiting Fanø at this year’s festival.
The grand kite meeting has been postponed for years, due to covid 19.

“We have invited 25 kite makers because China is the birthplace of the kite and we are the biggest kite festival in the world”, says the Head organizer Poul Therkelsen from Fanø, “so we think this is the year that we want to show the world how chinese kites are”.

The trade between China and Europe goes back centuries. Fanø had Denmark’s second largest port in the 1700s and 1800s. Danish sailors from Fanø sailed to China and brought home various goods from China that still are part of the local culture.

Chinese kites are known for their stability and graceful flight.  

Compared to Western kites, Chinese kites often incorporate symbolic elements. For Instance a butterfly are known for their graceful and delicate flight – seen as free-spirited creatures that embody the essence of joy, and lightness. Western kites are generally more focused on aesthetic appeal or aerodynamic performance.

The Chinese constructions are made in bamboo, paper and silk, which creates the delicate flying abilities, while the western kites use materials like fiberglass or nylon. 

The 74 Swedish Andreas Ågren, that now live in Bali explains:
“Few people have the chance to go to China and watch them, so to get all these 25 kite makers coming here,” explains the Swede, that has visiting kite makers in China 20 times, “to see the exquisite bamboo work is for me, oh look at my arms”, as he enthusiastic points as his hair raising on the arm.

Organizer Poul Therkelsen tries to explain: “Fanø kite fliers meeting is world known and it’s one of the biggest festivals or kite fliers meetings in the world, so it has a mythical status in China. So they all want to come here.”

Chinese kite-master and Vice chairman of the Chinese Kite Association Leng Shixiang says standing with a butterfly kite:
“I developed a fondness for kites during my youth. However, through practical learning, it takes at least a decade to master the art of kite-making and create good kites. I have been making kites for sixty years now.”

The Chinese set up a 20 meter long (65 feet) centipede kite that requires skill and technique to maintain stability and control.  The dragon head is here a symbol to ward off evil spirits and attract positive energy and blessings. 

Western kites compared with Chinese kites are generally focused often more on dynamics, made with materials like fiberglass or carbon fiber rods.

Søren Christensen, that has set up kites all his life says:
“Normally the weather is kind to us. Sometimes it blows a little too much, but we will learn to handle that”.

As the steady wind from the west passes through the narrow gap between the dunes, it accelerates, resulting in stronger and more reliable winds on the eastern side of the island, where kites meet in the blue heaven.

Female kite Hou Qiuling, Secretary General of Chinese Kite Association says:

“We made a test kite fly on Fanoe Island as soon as we woke up in the morning today. The wind was great, although it came in gusts, sometimes gentle, sometimes strong. But once we started flying it, it felt amazing. The weather was also perfect, with a blue sky adorned with white clouds. The kite looked exceptionally beautiful against the backdrop.” 

The festival often features impressive large-scale and innovative kite creations by app. 5000 kiteres, that set up the more than 20.000 kites in the air, along the wide beach stretching for approximately 14 kilometers (8.7 miles).

Spectacular displays such as kite ballet performances, synchronized flying, and acrobatic maneuvers are other highlights of the festival, including a unique performance of the Chinese kite-masters.

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