Nantong Kite Museum reopens with a fresh look

Nantong banyao kites are displayed at the Nantong Kite Museum. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

The Nantong Kite Museum reopened on Sept 21 after a complete renovation, highlighting the cultural essence and fine craftsmanship of the Nantong banyao kite, a national intangible cultural heritage item.

The redesigned museum is split into two main exhibition areas: Indoor and outdoor. The indoor space includes a curated collection of over 100 detailed Nantong banyao kites and their accessories. Outside, the "rainbow corridor" illustrates the history and evolution of Chinese kite culture with a combination of images and text.

The museum boasts interactive experiences. In the lobby, visitors find an AI system where they can choose their favorite kite type on a screen, generate a digital image, and print it as a memento. Further inside, an experience room is equipped with a sound transmission system, enabling visitors to hear the high, medium, and low pitches of the Nantong banyao kite's whistles by pressing a button.

The museum also includes a visitor center that sells cultural and creative items like postcards and fridge magnets themed around the Nantong banyao kite. It also offers a kite-making workshop.

To mark its 20th anniversary, the museum displays a special 3-meter-tall banyao kite. This artwork combines seven hexagonal banyao kites and 180 whistles, features blue dragons, and uses traditional blue-and-white painting styles. Unlike classic methods, this kite is made from high-quality carbon fiber materials, enabling it to be folded and assembled.