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Kite festival set for October holiday
(Shanghai Daily)
Updated: 2004-09-27 09:17  The Seventh National Tourism Kite Festival will be held at the Fengxian
Bay Traveling Area during the upcoming National Day Holiday.
With
13.7-kilometer-long coastline, the tourist area in Fengxian District covers an
area of 17.6 square kilometers. Facing the East China Sea, it is an ideal place
for kite flying because of the abundant wind.
Every year at this time,
thousands of visitors are attracted to the Fengxin Kite Flying Ground. The sky
over the open area is always filled with various colorful kites with different
designs.
Covering an area of more than 200,000 square meters, it is also
the largest kite flying playground in southern China.
Kites were invented
in China as long as 3,000 years ago. During that period of time, kites were made
of bamboo frames and silk sails and bridles.
Kites are also regarded as
the pioneer object in the history of flight, far earlier than the first balloon
flight appeared in 1783 and the Wright brothers' powered aircraft invented in
1903.
One legend suggests that when a Chinese farmer tied a string to his
hat to keep it from blowing away in a strong wind, the first kite was
born.
Kite flying was eventually spread by traders from China to Korea,
and across Asia to India. Each area has developed a unique style of kite and
cultural purpose for flying them.
First invented for military use, kite
flying gradually turned into a popular and common amusement in China during the
11th century. Then it became a seasonal activity.
In the northern part of
China, the main kite flying season occurs from the Chinese Lunar New Year
(usually in January or February) to the Qingming Festival (usually in April)
because of the favorable winds.
However, autumn is believed to be the
best season for kite flying in the southern part. Chinese people are experts at
making kites. They make colorful kites in various shapes such as dragons, birds
and butterflies.
Some animal-shaped kites are designed in such a way that
they can roll their eyes and flutter their wings. Other kites are so big that
they require a group of people to operate them.
Nowadays, new materials
such as nylon and fiberglass have been introduced to kite making, which also
makes them stronger, lighter and more durable.
A show room at the Fengxin
Kite Flying Ground provides visitors with various kinds and sizes of kites
featuring different animals such as butterflies, eagles and bats.
Prices
range from 5 yuan (US$0.60) to 50 yuan.
The first Shanghai Kite
Championship is also set to be held on October 1. A total of 19 teams from
around the city will compete at the site.
Judges from the Shanghai Kite
Committee will rate the participants by measuring the flying height, the flying
stability as well as the craft of kite making.
For visitors who develop
an appetite during the event, a delicacy festival will also be held at a square
not far away from the site. Ten local restaurants will set up stalls in the open
air to present visitors a wide choice of fresh seafood and Chinese
dim-sum.
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