Kite flying is one of the most popular traditional sports in China. Kite, called Feng Zheng in Chinese, originated in China and it has been praised as the forerunner of modern aircrafts. Its history can be traced back to more than 2000 years ago. Legend has it that, the first Chinese kites were made of wood and called Muyuan (wooden kites) by the famous architect and carpenter Lu Ban during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476BC); after the invention of paper, kites began to be made of this new material called Zhiyuan (paper kites).
Since the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD), kites were used for measuring and messages transmitting. During the Tang Dynasty (618-907), people fixed on kites some bamboo strips which, when high in the air, would vibrate and ring in the breeze like a zither (a stringed instrument). Since then, the popular Chinese name for kites has become Feng Zheng (wind zither). Kite flying became a recreational game during the Song Dynasty (960-1278) and was spread to Europe in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Gradually kite flying became a seasonal activity -- the main kite flying season occurs from Chinese New Year (usually in January and February) through Qingming (usually in March or April) because of favorable winds.
The process of kite making has four steps: selecting, covering, painting and flying. For the frame, the right kind of bamboo must be selected. It should be thick and strong for a kite of large dimensions in order to stand the wind pressure. For miniature kites, on the other hand, thin bamboo strips are to be used to reduce the weight. Both sides of the crosspiece should be equal in width. The second step in the making of a kite is the covering of the frame. This is normally done with paper, sometimes with silk. Silk kites are more durable and generally of higher artistic value. The third step is painting. Painting of the kite may be done in either of two ways. For mass-produced kites, pre-printed paper is used to cover the frames. Custom-made kites are painted manually after covering. Many of the designs bear messages of good luck; a pine tree and a crane, for example, mean longevity, bats and peaches wish you good fortune and a long life, and so on.
People nowadays make colorful kites in the shapes of animals, birds, butterflies, fishes and centipedes. Some animal-shaped kites are designed so they can roll their eyes and flutter their wings.
Beijingers are most famous for their kite flying hobby. Nowadays, kite flying has become a popular recreation far and wide in China. In 1989, the International Kite League was established, headquartering Weifang in Shangdong Province. The well-known Weifang Kite Festival has become an annual feature in the country, drawing hundreds of participants each April from home and abroad.
The kite is mainly, but not only, a plaything. It has contributed to science and production. In 1782, Benjamin Franklin, a noted American scientist and statesman, studied lightning and thunder in the sky with the help of a kite and then invented the lightning rod.
