The 43rd Weifang International Kite Festival, an annual kite gala, opened on Saturday in Weifang City in east China's Shandong Province.

This year's festival has brought together competitors from 57 countries and regions, with more than 2,300 kites in a wide range of creative designs filling the sky in a vivid spectacle of color and craftsmanship.

The festival features 56 events, including the 22nd World Kite Championships, as well as cultural and tourism activities, sporting events, and business exchanges.

Known as the "kite capital of the world," Weifang is the birthplace of kites and is renowned for its long history of kite-making and exquisite craftsmanship.

It has been home to the Weifang International Kite Festival since 1984.