Taiwanese kites are drawing attention at an ongoing French kite-flying festival, which has brought together participants from 38 countries to show off their kite flying and craft skills, a Taiwanese kite maker said on Monday.
The eight-day Dieppe International Kite Festival, which opened in the northern French port town of Dieppe on Saturday, is one of the oldest kite-flying festivals in Europe and features kites of traditional and contemporary designs from all over the world.
The biennial event is also the world’s premier venue for the display of kite-making skills.
PHOTO: CNA
At the invitation of Dieppe Mayor Sebastien Jumel, Taiwan’s representative to France, Michel Lu (呂慶龍), greeted participants during the festival’s opening ceremony.
At the Taiwanese pavilion, set up by the Taiwan Yunlin Kite Association, a bright red fish-shaped kite caught the attention of Jumel and a group of Dieppe City councilors. The kite was presented to Jumel as a memento by Tsai Wen-fu (蔡文福), a kite-making master from the association.
The eye-catching fish kite was created through the joint efforts of members of the association, who set up the pavilion to display a wide range of new and unique Taiwanese kites.
The fish shape is a symbol of good luck in Taiwanese culture.
Tsai said the festival allowed people from other countries to gain better insight into the skills of Taiwanese kite makers and gave participants from Taiwan a chance to exchange views with kite aficionados from other countries.
Tsai said he had learned a lot from his discussions with international kite makers.
Various demonstrations, competitions and exhibitions are being held at the festival, including a world cup kite fighting contest and an artistic kite competition.
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