A Brief Introduction of Chinese Kites

Kites（feng zheng），known in ancient China as zhiyuan（paper kites）or muyao （wooden kites），fall into two major groups-the Southern Group and the Northern Group.

In South China，kites are usually called yaozi（harrier）or banyao（wooden harrier），while in North China they are known as muyuan（wooden hawk），fengyan（wind hawk）or feiyuan（flying hawk）.As a folk art，the Chinese kite is usually made of painted silk on a bamboo frame，with a silk string attached to it.Of all the art forms in the Chinese culture，kites are one of the well-known handicraft arts beaming with national characteristics，and kite-flying has become a favorite pastime among the people.

Famous Cities of Kite Flying in China

Kite flying is widespread in China，especially in Beijing and Weifang which are both epicenters of kite manufacturing and flying.Kites are made in various styles by professional or amateur artists of different schools.

Eulogized as China’s kite capital，the city of Weifang in the northern province of Shandong hosts an International Kite Fair and kite-flying tournament every spring just before Qingming.The event attracts numerous contestants from all over the world and a growing number of tourists from home and abroad.

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