"2018 Hsinchu City International Kite Festival" kicks off on September 8

The annual "2018 Hsinchu City International Kite Festival" will kick off with great fanfare on September 8 and 9 at the Nanliao International Kite Field. At yesterday's (the 3rd) press conference, Deputy Mayor Shen Hui-hung, together with kite experts from the Hsinchu City Stunt Kite Sports Association and the Asian International Kite Federation, jointly flew the heart-shaped kite "Love Takes Flight on Kites, Happiness Sets Sail," designed by Taiwan kite design master Su Tian-fu, symbolizing the official launch of the event. Mayor Lin Chih-chien said that this year, distinctive kites from 7 countries in Europe, the Americas and Asia have been invited, making the skies over Hsinchu City even more colorful and lively.

The morning press conference opened with an aerial theater performance of "Shi Yan-wen Battles Cang Jing-ren" by the 8+ Stunt Kite Team. Deputy Mayor Shen Hui-hung, together with kite experts from the Hsinchu City Stunt Kite Sports Association and the Asian International Kite Federation, jointly flew the kite "Love Takes Flight on Kites, Happiness Sets Sail," created by Taiwan kite master Su Tian-fu. In addition, keeping up with current trends, this year's featured kites incorporate anime, with the hottest Travel Frog, Chopper, Minions, SpongeBob and other anime cartoon kites flying in the sky, attracting the attention of children and adults alike.

Mayor Lin Chih-chien said that this year's Hsinchu City International Kite Festival has invited distinctive kites from 7 countries in Europe, the Americas and Asia, making the skies over Hsinchu City even more colorful and lively, and welcomed people from all over Taiwan to come to Nanliao in Hsinchu this weekend to enjoy the sea breeze, fly kites and eat seafood.

Wu Chia-tien, Director-General of the Department of Economic Development, said that this year's event is based on the concept of a "Happy Children's Party," with kite performances featuring fairy tale and anime cartoon character designs that children know and love, such as the Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, Stitch, and Zhu Bajie and Sun Wukong from Journey to the West, as well as Shi Yan-wen and Cang Jing-ren, who are familiar to adults, plus shaped kites such as the Malaysian moon kite, Russian doll and Singapore Merlion, and a 30-meter-long commemorative kite recording the scene of the 1912 tug-of-war final between Britain and Sweden. A spectacular sight is anticipated.