FANOE, a small island off Denmark’s west coast, has been aflutter with over 20,000 colorful kites bobbing against the sky, during a kite festival running through June 24. Also part of the vibrant scenery, a 20-meter-long Chinese dragon is “dancing” in the sky harmoniously with Mickey Mouse and Goofy, with swallows occasionally joining the aerial waltz. As the gust sweeps unfettered across the island, it turns the expansive 14-kilometer stretch of beach into a paradise for exuberant kites. The artistry and craftsmanship of Chinese traditional kites drew appraisal from international spectators, while the aerobatic precision and control required to maneuver these kites were a source of fascination and inspiration for many kite enthusiasts. “We get 25 Chinese kite masters coming here, so people can watch them closely and see the exquisite works,” said Andreas Aagren, a seasoned kite enthusiast from Sweden. The China to Fanoe Culture Week, a sideline event in the kite festival, covered other activities that allowed for a deeper appreciation of Chinese culture and cultural bonds. “Such connections are traceable throughout our cultural heritage,” Frank Jensen, mayor of Fanoe, said of the culture week. “It’s also easy to find parallels between ships and kites; they are both huge, colorful and rely on the wind,” he said. A testimony to the high level of interest, two workshops on the ancient craft of shaping bamboo for kites and the art of maneuvering traditional Chinese kites were overbooked. “A kite event has gradually grown into a grand cultural occasion, celebrating the cultural exchange between China and Fanoe,” said Sofie Valbjorn, chairwoman of the board of the Association of China to Fanoe. (Xinhua) | 