Safety fears override cultural concerns

Sky lanterns, small hot air balloons that originated in China centuries ago, have been flown at traditional festivals for centuries, but in recent years they have been accused of posing a safety threat.

The flying lights, also known as Kongming Lanterns, comprise a thin shell made from paper with an opening at the bottom, supported and framed by bamboo strips. A small candle or other flammable material is suspended from the base, warming the surrounding air when lit and causing the lantern to float into the sky.

Although sinologist Joseph Needham (1900-95) noted that the Chinese began to experiment with small hot air balloons as early as the third century, it is believed that the sky lantern was invented during the Three Kingdoms period (220-280), when the country was divided into three and suffered from continuous fighting between warlords.