Denie Danial bin Muhd Azeimi, son of Mohd Azeimi Muhd Noor, flies a kite by the shore near Kota Bharu in Kelantan, Malaysia, on March 28, 2025.
KELANTAN, April 13 (Xinhua) -- On a Kelantan beach in the afternoon, the dry monsoon wind sweeps across the fine sand under a crystal-clear sky. Forty-nine-year-old Malay artisan Mohd Azeimi Muhd Noor gently tugs the string in his hand, sending a vibrant moon kite (Wau Bulan in Malay) soaring into the azure expanse, tracing graceful arcs against the heavens. His eyes follow the kite, sparkling with childlike delight.
Mohd Azeimi Muhd Noor (R) and his son Denie Danial bin Muhd Azeimi prepare to fly a kite by the shore near Kota Bharu in Kelantan, Malaysia, on March 28, 2025.Mohd Azeimi Muhd Noor (R) and his son Denie Danial bin Muhd Azeimi fly a kite by the shore near Kota Bharu in Kelantan, Malaysia, on March 28, 2025.A moon kite is flied by Mohd Azeimi Muhd Noor and his son Denie Danial bin Muhd Azeimi by the shore near Kota Bharu in Kelantan, Malaysia, on March 28, 2025.
Kelantan, Malaysia's northernmost "Land of Kites," is a perfect place for kite-flying, blessed with strong coastal winds year-round. It is the birthplace of Malaysia's most celebrated moon kite and a beloved folk song of the same name. Strolling through the streets, kite motifs adorn everything, speaking of the deep bond between this land and its kites.
This photo taken on March 28, 2025 shows a moon kite flying in the sky over a mural depicting a local village in old days in Kota Bharu, Kelantan State, Malaysia.This photo taken on March 28, 2025 shows a mural on Kota Bharu's vibrant art street depicting Azeimi Muhd Noor crafting a traditional moon kite in Kelantan State, Malaysia.A bus adorned with a moon kite design is seen in Kota Bharu, Kelantan of Malaysia on March 28, 2025.This photo taken on March 30, 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia shows Malaysia's distinctive moon kite featured on the nation's 50 sen coins and 1 ringgit banknote.
Azeimi's home lies in a tree-shaded village on the outskirts of Kota Bharu. Outside his workshop, tall mango trees cast dappled shadows, with birds occasionally perching on their branches. Inside, he sits cross-legged, meticulously carving bamboo frames and painting vibrant kite canvases.
Azeimi Muhd Noor arranges his workbench at his workshop in a village near Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia, on March 27, 2025.Azeimi Muhd Noor decorates a kite at his workshop in a village near Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia, on March 27, 2025.Azeimi Muhd Noor displays a newly-made kite that takes him month-long effort at his workshop in a village near Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia, on March 27, 2025.This photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows decorations of a kite made by Azeimi Muhd Noor at his workshop in a village near Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia.This photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows a plastic bucket filled with used carving blades at the workshop of Azeimi Muhd Noor in a village near Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Azeimi Muhd Noor learned the traditional kite-making skills from his father at just four or five years old. The skills had been passed down through generations in his family, and now his two sons has mastered the craft as well.
According to Azeimi, selecting bamboo is crucial. Riverside bamboo is too brittle; only mature bamboo, grown far from water sources, will do. The kite's skeleton must be strong.
Azeimi Muhd Noor works on a bamboo rod at his workshop in a village near Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia, March 27, 2025.Azeimi Muhd Noor works on the kite framework at his workshop in a village near Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia, March 27, 2025.Azeimi Muhd Noor looks at a 3-meter-long giant moon kite made by him at his workshop in a village near Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia, March 27, 2025.
Kelantan International Kite Festival, now in its 41st year, draws enthusiasts from over a dozen countries, including China, Singapore, and Australia. In 2017, Azeimi was invited to compete in Guangxi, China, an unforgettable experience, he said. He enjoys exchanging ideas with Chinese kite lovers, always sparking new inspirations.
This photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows trophies marking achievements of Azeimi Muhd Noor at multiple international kite competitions as Malaysia's representative at his workshop in a village near Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia.
As cities expand, Azeimi finds suitable bamboo increasingly scarce. Yet he takes comfort in the undiminished allure of kites. Today, many collect kites as art pieces, and orders keep growing. He hopes that when Kelantan's railway is completed, more clients and kite enthusiasts will arrive. He also dreams of returning to China one day.
Azeimi Muhd Noor displays a kite ordered by Malaysia Airlines at his workshop in a village near Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia, on March 27, 2025.A Malaysia Airlines aircraft with the company's signature kite logo is seen at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia, March 29, 2025.
In Kelantan's Kite Museum, a dazzling array of kites is displayed-Malaysia's traditional moon kite, the agile cat kite (Wau Kucing in Malay), the elegant woman kite (Wau Jala Budi in Malay), and artistic kites from around the world. Most scholars trace the kite's origins to China over two millennia ago. It connects humanity to the vast skies and brings people together across borders.
Three representative Malaysian traditional kites are displayed at a workshop in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, March 27, 2025. The woman kite (L) features elegant feminine curves. The cat kite (C) draws inspiration from a cat's silhouette, and the moon kite mirrors the crescent moon's shape.
In Kelantan, where kites dance in the wind, ancient Malay and Chinese cultures intertwine. The Chinese-style archway at "Zheng He Square" in the city center quietly bears witness to the long history of exchange between the two civilizations. Azeimi hopes the friendship between Malaysia and China will soar as high and far as a kite in the boundless sky.
A plane flies by as Mohd Azeimi Muhd Noor (R) and his son Denie Danial bin Muhd Azeimi look at their kite in Kota Bharu in Kelantan, Malaysia, on March 28, 2025.
