The largest kite in the world flew above Songya Lake in Changsha county, Hunan province, on April 14.

The kite, with a size of 2,600 square meters and weighing more than 500 kg, broke the Guinness World Record for the largest soft kite in 2014. It is in the shape of a Chinese knot and was made over four months.

The colossus, as big as seven basketball courts, was released to fly with the joint effort of nine kite masters and over 50 volunteers in the Songya Lake Wetland Park, witnessed by thousands of local residents.

According to Liu Tao, the head of the design team, the soft kite is an evolution of Chinese traditional kites. As the Chinese knot symbolizes unity, happiness, and peace, the kite was designed to promote the nation’s traditional kite culture worldwide, Liu said.

The world’s largest kite floats above the Songya Lake Wetland Park, Changsha county, on April 14. [Photo by Zou Lin/Changsha Evening News]