Where do kites, kite building, and kite flying come from?From China!
And where does the world’s largest kite meeting take place?On Fanø!
The Fanø International Kitefliers Meeting attracts more than five thousand people from all over the world,who meet to cultivate their common passion, flying kites.
But why here precisely?
It is not just the wide, open beach and the North Sea wind that tie kite flying and China to Fanø.During Fanø’s golden age of shipping in the nineteenth century, Fanø ships and Fanø sailors navigatedout into the world and traded with China.
Another Chinese invention, the compass, made it possible for sailors to find their way home.They brought back products that became important for Fanø.
Silk became part of the traditional Fanø costume, chinaware appeared in kitchens, and here and there on the island the boxthorn Lycium began growing – and today, its goji berries are healthy and rank as one of the world’s “super foods.”
But, perhaps, most importantly, they brought with them the wide horizon and the vision that is now prominent on the island,and we celebrate this by flying kites and sending them up into the infinite sky.
Chinese kites from Malcolm Goodman´s collection at Fanø Hallen June 11th - 16th
22 pices of Chinese Art from 18th and 19th century, borrowed frm the Danish National Museum at Fanø Art Museum, Jun4th - october 2nd
Books and Lectures
- TO BE UPDATED-
China to Fanoe - a book about Fanø, China and kites. for sale on Fanø, price 95 dkk
Lecture with museum inspector Benjamin Asmussen about his new bokk on maritime history, China and Fanø
Cultural Events
- TO BE UPDATED-
gallashow at Fanø Hallen with Zheijiang Arts Group, 32 musicians, ancers and acrobats from Hangzou.
2 shows, at 14.00 and at 20.00.
China to Fanoe - Flying Chinese kites
from June 11th to June 16thtil 16. you will see approx 25 chinese kitemasters fly with their kites on the beach at Fanø Bad.
Show with Pan Ying flying (light weight eagle kites)
Fanø International Kite Fliers Meeting
After the China to fanoe event, the annualt kite fliers meeting will take place. every year thousands of kitefliers from all over the world gather on the beach on Fanø to fly kites and. there will be lots of kites on from from June 10th to June 24th.