?One kite maker in Kunming is celebrating the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games in a most unusual way- by releasing the world's longest kite.

The world's longest kite is successfully released into the sky in Shilin Airport in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, on?June 23, 2008.

The Kunming Daily reported that the 3,500-meter-long, bee-shaped kite made a successful flight in the city's Shilin Airport on Monday. The kite is composed of 2,034 smaller kites, the first 26 of which represent the 26 ethnic groups in Yunnan Province. The remaining 2,008 kites represent the year of the games.

Zhang Tengyun, the kite maker, said to make his wish come true, he had to begin his preparations several years ago.

Constructing the kite was a huge project. It required more than 10,000 meters of bamboo strips, 88,000 meters of kite string and bolts upon bolts of cloth. Even with the efforts of 160 people, the kite took two years to complete.

The kite failed during its initial test flight last December. After spending six months diagnosing the problem, Zhang was very excited at the kite's successful second attempt.

Assistants fly the world's longest kite in Shilin Airport in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, on?June 23, 2008.

Assistants fly the world's longest kite in Shilin Airport in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, on?June 23, 2008.

(CRI June 24, 2008)