Yangjiang: Kite Culture and Yuanyang Lake

Kite culture shapes the wider region around Yangjiang; the Southland Kite Arena on Yuanyang Lake is within the city limits. Kite flying and kite making are central to its cultural character; the Southland Kite Arena is located on Yuanyang Lake. The lake offers a different perspective on Yangjiang—with its expanse of water, green banks, pavilions and towers. If you’re looking for a hotel in Yangjiang, you can plan your trip around your interests in culture and scenery.

Kite Designations and Craftsmanship

Yangjiang was designated the “Home of Kites in Guangdong” in 1991 and the “Home of Kites in China” in July 1993. The first designation refers to Guangdong, while the later one refers to China. The techniques used to make Yangjiang kites are also part of the cultural background. A report from the Bureau of Culture and Tourism in April 2022 noted that folk artists had passed these techniques down and continued to practice them across generations. The designations and craftsmanship thus shed light on different aspects of the region’s kite heritage.

The Yangjiang “Lingzhi” Kite

The Yangjiang “Lingzhi” kite was named one of the world’s ten most remarkable kites. It is oval in shape: a white cloud sits at the top, with a lifelike deer below, holding a lingzhi mushroom in its mouth. The design combines a clear shape with a precisely described sequence of images: cloud, animal and plant.

The Southland Kite Arena

The Southland Kite Arena is located on Yuanyang Lake, within the city limits of Yangjiang. It covers 120,000 square meters and was established in 1991 as China’s first kite-flying field. The venue is designed to accommodate 300,000 people flying kites. The area and capacity refer to different measures: 120,000 square meters describes the size of the venue, while the capacity figure indicates the potential number of people flying kites.

Kite-Flying Season and Festival Day

In the Yangjiang area, kite flying is a popular activity from the Mid-Autumn Festival to the Double Ninth Festival. This period is associated with clear weather and strong, favorable autumn winds. There is also a specific day in the lunar calendar: Yangjiang historically designated the ninth day of the ninth lunar month as Kite Festival Day. A historical account records that public kite-flying competitions were held annually on this day. The seasonal period and the single festival day represent different time-related aspects of kite culture.

Yuanyang Lake and the Cityscape

Yuanyang Lake is artificial and has a water surface of 47 hectares. It is considered the largest artificial lake within the city limits of Yangjiang and also acts as a natural temperature regulator. Clear water and willow-lined banks shape the scenery; lush flowers and plants, along with pavilions and towers, stand amid the greenery. The lakeside scenery complements the kite theme with a different focus: water, vegetation and architectural accents within the city.

Discover more destinations: Maoming, Yunfu, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing, Shenzhen, Shaoguan, Zhanjiang, Zhongshan.

For the broader travel overview: Guangdong.