Objectives
1. After the Kite Festival has successfully established the local features as well as the international fame for Shimen, the local officials decides to further expand the theme "wind" and demonstrate different artistic allures of north coast by combining elements of dance and driftwoods art installation.
2. Local art resources are integrated with cultural tourism to construct an art and cultural belt in the north coast. Furthermore, schools, and community clubs of Shimen and Sanzhi are provided with culture and art resources so that the pubic is more exposed to diverse art and culture activities to inspire creativity and prompt the development of culture tourism.
Introduction
An activity titled "Dance of Wind" combines kites and dances. Professional kite flyers from Germany, Australia, US, Japan, Korea, etc.. are invited to do great kite flying shows and exhibit kite works while adding various dance shows to the activity so that the sky-blue sky of north coast in fall is filled with not only colorful kites but also various dance shows on the beach, providing the public an art feast that is both powerful and beautiful. Kites from different nations and the slim and graceful dancers bring a sense of exotics and create a different art atmosphere in the north coast.
The event is held on September 24-25 and October 1-2 in Shimen Kite Park, the White Beach and the parking lot of Sanzhi Sand Beach. The event includes 4 themed activities: "1000 People Fly Kites ", "Kite Dance Competition", "Dance of Mermaids", "The Sea World" and also "Dances of the World", "The Competitive Dances", " The Summer Dances" and "The Island Dances" brought by Red Brick Folk Dance Group and Dance Factory. The public is treated with a feast of colorful dance of wind.
About the Activity
The Kite Show - 1000 People Fly Kites: The Kite Dance Competition is held in Shimen Kite Park and White Beach. Professional kite flyers from Germany, Australia, New Zealand, US, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Mainland China and Chinese Taipei Stunt Kites Promotion Association, 8 + Stunt Kite Unit, and Crown Coast Stunt Kite Unit from Taiwan gather to demonstrate their excellent kit flying skills and the latest kite works including kites by international renowned kite designer, Peter Lynn from New Zealand, who brings big-scale soft kits in which he specializes to Taiwan, the champion kite in the 2011 Vietnam International Kite Festival by the Indonesian team, and the colorful "Big Worm" kite. Furthermore, China's national treasure, kite master Li Xiao-Hu, is bringing his latest work of the nostalgic dynamic kite, "horse wagon", to Taiwan. His previous work "The Smoking Train" was exhibited in Taiwan last year.
Dance shows - The Summer Dance Competition: Dance of the World is held at 16:00 in the parking lot of Sanzhi Sand Beach. Red Brick Folk Dance group and Dance Factory bring folk dance pieces such as passionate Samba, Flamenco, Tap dance, and Aboriginal dance. The dancers on the ground and the kites in the sky light up the art and culture belt of the New Taipei City. Furthermore, free experience activities such as "Wind Motor Art Installation Zone", "Kites & Related Industry Fairs", and "Kite DIY" are also available.
Local Highlights
The Kite Park is the only kite park in Taiwan. All kinds of kites are flying in the sky when the weather is good. Especially during the International Kite Festival, kite experts from all over the world get togather to decorate the blue sky and white clouds with colorful kites, filling the sky with joy and childhood dreams of flying. The park leans against a mountain and faces the sea with a broad view in the front. Sitting in the Wave-watching pavilion and listening to the sea wash off the hustling of bustling of the city. The coast along the park is etched with the so-called "stone channel" wonder caused by hundreds of million years of water erosion. The soft parts of the rocks, after being washed by sea water, were eroded and left behind the tough parts which formed the channels. The northeast monsoon brings strong winds and casts towering waves and it is also when the sea algae such as sea lettuce and charophyta proliferate grow, creating an amazing and the only green coast line in Taiwan. It attracts countless photography lovers to linger in every April and May for only one purpose and one purpose only - to capture the moment permanently.
White Sand Beach is a half-moon-shaped natural bay surrounded by Linshanbi and Cape Prosperity and is famous for the 1.3 meter long fine white sand beach in northern Taiwan. It always attracts countless visitors during the summer. Colorful sun-block umbrellas and white tents fill the entire beautiful seashell beach and young people play sand volleyball happily on one side. Various water sports such as banana boats or jet skis are available there, making it a tourist attraction like Kenting in southern Taiwan. The White Sand Beach is not far from Taipei City and is very safe. More than often, parents take their kids here and natural swimmers like Labradors swimming in the sea are spotted from time to time. It is indeed a water paradise in the summer. Despite there are other beaches being developed along the north coastline, the White Sand Beach remains the favorite beach in northern Taiwan.
The white Erluanbi Lighthouse stands at the south tip of Taiwan and the black and white Cape Prosperity Lighthouse guards the north tip of Taiwan. They, though apart in south and north, guide the people fighting with sea home safely. The lighthouse was built in the period of Japanese occupation in 1896 for building undersea cables and as a landmark for navigation between Japan and Taiwan. All the materials used were shipped from Japan. It was completed in 1897. Because of the fog season of the north coast in fall and the ever changing northeast monsoon, the navigation was severely affected. Thus, a foghorn was installed in the lighthouse to warn ships during the heavy fog. The Fuji fishing harbor inside the Cape Prosperity Recreational Area is famous for its fresh seafood. The footpaths and the labyrinth, like recreational facilities in the recreational area, are suitable for kids. The vast sea of energetic fiery red Indian Blanket flowers rival with the azure blue sky and the two also complement each other.
