The joint opening ceremony for the 2026 Themed Tourism Year "Discover the Treasures of Shandong", the 43rd Weifang International Kite Festival, and the 2026 Weifang Kite Carnival was held at the World Kite Park in Weifang on April 18.

Guests and friends from home and abroad gathered in Weifang to celebrate the spring, enjoy the grand kite event, and share their hopes for a bright future.

The kite serves as a cherished symbol of Weifang that has been passed down among generations for over 2,400 years.

Since its debut in 1984, the Weifang International Kite Festival has developed far beyond its more humble beginnings, growing into a broad platform for cultural exchange, friendly international relations, and economic and trade cooperation. Now in its 43rd edition, the festival continues to thrive.

This year's festival will feature 56 series of events spanning kite flying, culture, tourism, sports, trade, and consumption. The goal is to create a deeply integrated platform to boost consumption and inject fresh energy into Weifang's economic development.

The opening ceremony of the 43rd Weifang International Kite Festival is held at the World Kite Park in Weifang on April 18. [Photo by Liu Chuan/chinadaily.com.cn]

The Weifang International Kite Festival serves as a window for people-to-people and cultural exchange, as well as a bridge for economic and trade cooperation, connecting Weifang with the rest of the world. [Photo by Liu Chuan/chinadaily.com.cn]

The 43rd Weifang International Kite Festival brings the city's thousand-year-plus heritage face to face with cutting-edge technology. [Photo by Liu Chuan/chinadaily.com.cn]