'Kite city' flies higher with cultural heritage

2018-07-09    Source: China Daily

From the 35th Weifang International Kites Festival, April 21, 2018. [Photo/Xinhua]

When Mo Di, a philosopher, invented the wood kite about 2,000 years ago, he would have never thought his invention would be passed down and eventually grace Weifang in Shandong province.

Known as the cradle of kites, Weifang is also home to many household names, from scholars to poets to artists.

A craftswoman prepares New Year pictures in Weifang, Shandong province, Jan 29, 2018. [Photo/Xinhua]

Called the "city of handicraft", Weifang earned fame for its highly developed craft work during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Zheng Banqiao, the official calligrapher and painter for the Qianlong Emperor, once worked in Weifang as the county magistrate. He praised Weifang as "another Suzhou" in his poem, as Suzhou was one of the most developed places in his time.

With a rich cultural heritage and natural beauty, the city received more protection in modern China. In 2010, an eco-cultural protection area was established in Weifang, the ninth such national area administered by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Cherry blossom in Weifang in Shangdong province, March 28, 2018. [Photo/Xinhua]

In the past decade, the city has been dedicated to becoming a culture-rich city, as it is developing specifically based on cultural creativity. Taking kites as a trademark, Weifang has also established a public cultural service system, bringing more benefits to its people. As one example for the eco-cultural protection area, intangible cultural heritages are being protected in new, creative ways.

The achievements of Weifang in the field of culture protection will go on show in Prince Kung's Mansion in Beijing from July 23 to Aug 23.

A news conference on the exhibition of the cultural heritage protection achievements of Weifang is held at the Prince Kung’s Mansion on July 7, 2018. [Photo provided to Chinaculture.org]

"The exhibition, divided in four sections, will be a window into letting people know more about cultural heritage and development in Weifang," said Sun Dongning, director of the mansion's traditional Chinese crafts research center, at a news conference for the exhibition at the mansion on July 7.

Sun said he was born in Shandong, yet the coming event will display many cultural heritages from Weifang he even didn't know before.

Jointly organized by Prince Kung's Mansion and the People's Government of Weifang city, the exhibit will feature a series of local delicacies, intangible cultural heritage and traditional handicrafts from Weifang in the form of videos, photos and performances.

Sun Dongning, director of the mansion's traditional Chinese crafts research center, discusses arrangements for the exhibition at a news conference in Prince Kung's Mansion on July 7, 2018. [Photo by Li Hongrui/Chinaculture.org]

If you go:

Weifang's food and delicacies exhibition
Time: 6 pm, July 23, 2018 
Location: West court, Prince Kung's Mansion

Weifang products fair
Time: July 23-Aug 23 
Location: The long corridor of Prince Kung's Mansion

Peformances of intangible cultural heritages from Weifang
Time: July 23-Aug 23 
Location: Prince Kung's Mansion