A screenshot of the official website of Afar. [Photo/WeChat account: Taidu Qilu]

US travel magazine Afar on Nov 28 released a list containing recommendations of 25 places around the world to visit in 2024.

Weifang, a city in East China's Shandong province, was the only recommended destination in China.

Other countries and regions included on the list include Fiji, Sydney, Tangier (Morocco), Rome, Paris, Manchester, Valencia (Spain), Brno (Czech Republic), Tartu (Estonia), Norway, Latvia Mu (Kenya), Machu Picchu (Peru), Maldonado (Uruguay), Toronto, St. Kitts, and Seattle, San Diego, Detroit, and Los Angeles in the United States.

Weifang is often called the "Kite Capital of the World" as it is the host venue for the International Kite Festival held every April. The city is also home to the World Kite Museum, which has five exhibition halls that showcase kite-making craftsmanship and folklore.

Weifang was designated a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Arts in 2021 and the Cultural Capital of East Asia in 2024. Among its major attractions are the Shihu Garden Intangible Cultural Heritage Park, where people can admire clay sculptures and paper-cutting works, the Yangjiabu Folk Art Grand View Garden for kite-making and printmaking, and a vibrant night market with a wide variety of local delicacies.

The annual International Kite Festival in Weifang, Shandong province, attracts thousands of visitors each year. [Photo/WeChat account: Taidu Qilu]

The People's Square in Weifang. [Photo/WeChat account: Taidu Qilu]