Yu Haitao discusses with his daughter Yu Hongwei about whistles of banyao kites. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

An array of Nantong-style banyao whistling kites came under the spotlight at the first countryside professionals' development forum, which was held in Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu province, from Nov 6 to 7.

The kites were made by Yu Haitao and his daughter, Yu Hongwei, from Tongzhou district, Nantong, both of whom are devoted to preserving and promoting the traditional folk art form.

Born in 1945, Yu Haitao was honored as the "representative inheritor of the banyao kite technique," which is the city's intangible cultural heritage item.

He not only preserves the traditional structure of the kite, but also designed a foldable whistling kite, which is easy to carry when traveling.

Yu Hongwei, inspired by her father since childhood, studied kite making technique under the national-level master Guo Chengyi. Her kites have been sold in the United States, Japan, France and many other countries and regions.

Nantong is one of four major production areas for kites in China. The renowned banyao kite is a large, flat, whistling kite with a hexagonal frame adorned with exquisite decorations and vibrant colors.

The whistles are made from dried gourds with a slit carved into the top, allowing them to produce a variety of sounds as they fly.

Many local primary and secondary schools have introduced the kite making lessons to students, aiming to help pass down the ancient technique to younger generations.

A banyao whistling kite made by Yu Haitao and his daughter, Yu Hongwei, from Tongzhou district, Nantong. [Photo/ntfabu.com]