The 42nd Weifang International Kite Festival, an annual kite gala, opened on Saturday in Weifang City, east China's Shandong Province.
At the kite flying field, an array of colorful kites in various forms dots the sky, offering a visual feast to viewers.
This year's festival features an expanded lineup of 56 events, including kite competitions, cultural exhibitions, sports tournaments, tourism promotions, and business exchanges.
A total of 257 teams from 51 countries and regions will participate in the kite-flying competitions.
Known as the "kite capital of the world," Weifang is the birthplace of kites and famous for its long history of kite-making and features exquisite craftsmanship.
It has been home to the Weifang International Kite Festival since 1984.
42nd Weifang Int'l Kite Festival opens
China's forest and grass coverage rate has exceeded 56 percent thanks to its greening efforts, according to a report released on Thursday by the National Greening Commission.
The country's afforestation areas surpassed 3.56 million hectares in 2025, the report said, adding that it had also restored nearly 4.93 million hectares of degraded grassland last year.
These achievements have brought China's forest coverage rate to a remarkable 25.09 percent, with forest stock volume totaling almost 20.99 billion cubic meters.
Last year, the output value of China's forestry and grassland industry reached nearly 11 trillion yuan (about 1.6 trillion U.S. dollars), the report revealed.
Ecotourism remained popular, recording over 3 billion trips in 2025, it said.
China also celebrated its 48th National Tree Planting Day on Thursday, with tree planting and afforestation activities held across the country in recent days.
China's forest, grass coverage rate surpasses 56 pct: report
