Weifang Kites: Ancient Innovation Meets Modern Flight

Today, we’ll talk about Weifang’s kites which symbolize cultural heritage and craftsmanship, attracting global enthusiasts to its annual International Kite Festival, where traditional techniques and modern innovations continue to soar.

Transcript

Weifang Kites: Ancient Innovation Meets Modern Flight

Today, we’ll talk about Weifang’s kites which symbolize cultural heritage and craftsmanship, attracting global enthusiasts to its annual International Kite Festival, where traditional techniques and modern innovations continue to soar.

The 42nd Weifang International Kite Festival and the 2025 Weifang Kite Carnival opened on April 19 at the Weifang World Kite Park in east China’s Shandong Province. A total of 257 teams from 51 countries and regions, including China, Brazil, and Italy, participated, launching various kites to compete for supremacy in the sky, engaging in a “battle” among the clouds.

The event included over 50 different activities, such as kite competitions, cultural and tourism promotions, kite culture exhibitions, sporting events and music festivals, as well as economic and trade cooperation. Additionally, a promotional song and mascot for the event were unveiled.

The origin of kites is a widely debated topic, but it’s universally accepted in the international kite community that the first kites appeared in China. According to historical records, the earliest kites date back to the Spring and Autumn period, lasting from 770 to 476 BC, over 2,500 years ago, and are attributed to Mozi, a great philosopher, scientist, and military strategist of ancient China.

Mozi, who lived from 478 to 392 BC, was keenly observant of natural phenomena and, in an era with limited technological development, began to create a flying device for military reconnaissance. After three years of relentless work, he fashioned a “wooden bird,” which might be the earliest prototype of the kite in human history. However, this “wooden bird,” though it could briefly fly, was unstable and only lasted a single day before being damaged. Nevertheless, Mozi’s creation laid the groundwork for the future development of kites.

Following Mozi’s invention, his disciple, Lu Ban, made significant improvements to the materials. Lu Ban was a legendary craftsman and inventor. He used bamboo for its flexibility and lightness to improve the “wooden bird,” transforming it into a more practical “bamboo bird.” According to historical records, Lu Ban split and smoothed bamboo, then baked it to bend into the shape of a magpie. The new “bamboo bird” could stay airborne for three days, a marked improvement. Not only did this advance the kite’s flight capabilities, but it also made the material easier to obtain and process, bringing it closer to the kites we recognize today and aiding in their widespread popularity.

During the Eastern Han period from 25 to 220 AD, as papermaking technology advanced and paper became more affordable, the materials used to make kites underwent a revolutionary change. Paper kites, known as “paper birds,” became lighter, more durable, and easier to decorate with patterns and colors, making them more visually appealing and artistic. This period marked the transformation of the kite into a popular folk toy.

The origin and development of kites are closely tied not only to ancient Chinese scientists and craftsmen but also to military activities. In ancient warfare, kites were used for transmitting military messages and scouting enemy positions. For example, during the Chu-Han Contention from 206 to 202 BC, the Han general Han Xin used kites to measure distances and provide vital intelligence for military operations. Kites were also used in meteorological observations and communications, underscoring their importance in ancient society.

As time passed, kites evolved from military tools to popular recreational items. During the Sui and Tang periods from 581 to 907, the flourishing paper industry and growing craftsmanship greatly enhanced kite-making techniques. People began to cover kites with paper and paint them with auspicious symbols and phrases representing good fortune, making kites not only functional but also symbols of well-wishing and the pursuit of happiness.

By the Song Dynasty, lasting from 960 to 1276, flying kites had become a common outdoor activity. During traditional festivals like Qingming, China’s tomb sweeping day, people would leave their homes to fly the kites they had carefully crafted, expressing their remembrance of deceased relatives and their longing for a happy life. This custom continues to this day and remains an integral part of Chinese traditional culture.

In the Ming and Qing dynasties from the 14th to early 20th century, kite-making reached its peak in China. The skills of kite construction became more refined, and the styles and designs more varied. The imperial and noble classes, as well as common folk, enthusiastically engaged in the creation and flying of kites, leading to an explosion of regional styles. The kites produced during this period were more diverse in size, design, structure, and decoration, showcasing the extraordinary talent and creativity of Chinese artisans.

Today, kite flying has become a global pastime and cultural symbol, not only widely practiced in China but also around the world. Events like the Weifang International Kite Festival attract kite enthusiasts and visitors from across the globe, creating opportunities for cultural exchange and the continued development of kite culture.

Weifang, located in the central part of Shandong Peninsula, is ideally situated with favorable geographical conditions, that is, mild and stable winds in the spring, making it an ideal location for kite flying. The city’s kites are world-renowned, and their history can be traced back to Mozi, who is said to have been born near Tengzhou, a city close to Weifang. Here, kites are not only traditional handicrafts but also artistic treasures that carry cultural significance and embody the spirit of the region.

On May 30, 2016, a Chinese art auction at Sotheby’s Hong Kong featured a calligraphy work by the Qing Dynasty’s Zheng Banqiao, who had written two poems titled Two Poems of Missing Weixian County. Weixian County is the original name of today’s Weifang City. The piece fetched 7.04 million HKD. These poems reflect his deep nostalgia for Weifang, where he had served as the county magistrate. In them, the springtime kites of Weifang fill the sky like snowflakes, bringing back memories of his time there. Now, I’ll read a translation of them for you.

Endless longing and longing,

the spring scenery of Weixian water is always delayed.

Thirty miles away from the peach blossoms on the shore,

the Yuanyang Temple is connected to the Liulang Temple.

The paper flowers fluttered like snowflakes dancing in the sky,

while the charming maidens twirled around.

The vibrant hues of their flowing skirts swayed with the wind,

as graceful butterflies engaged in a spirited battle heralding the arrival of spring.

Before leaving Weifang in 1753, Zheng had also written a poem about kites titled Resignation Poem: 

Old and weary in the officialdom for twelve years, 

today, I let the fish swim freely in the water. 

The spring breeze blows, and in the spring city, 

I leisurely follow children flying paper kites.

This poem, composed with lighthearted sentiment, conveys his love for the vibrant spring winds, which gave life to kites, as well as his empathy for the common people.

Zheng Banqiao, a renowned poet and painter during the Qing Dynasty, only held official posts for twelve years, but his seven-year tenure in Weifang from 1746 to 1753 forged an indelible connection to the city. He is also credited with the invention of a local dish, the “Chaotian Pot,” featuring a rich, flavorful broth and a variety of ingredients like meats, seafood, and vegetables, often cooked together in a large, communal pot. It is said that Zheng had given Weifang radishes as a birthday gift to a superior. Despite facing accusations of corruption and being removed from office, Zheng’s time in Weifang left a lasting legacy, particularly in the city’s kite-making traditions.

By the time Zheng served as magistrate, Weifang’s kite-making was already highly refined. Kites from Weifang had become a commodity by the Ming Dynasty and reached a commercial scale by the mid-Qing Dynasty, with specialized kite artisans emerging. It’s said that a mute artist named Chen gained fame for his uniquely designed kites, which flew higher and steadier than others, attracting admirers from across the region. Weifang’s kites were sold far and wide, not only to cities within Shandong but also to provinces like Jiangsu, Fujian, Anhui, Henan, and Hebei.

Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, Weifang kites have become a symbol of the city, cherished and celebrated by its people. In 1984, Weifang successfully hosted its first International Kite Festival, and in 1988, it was named the World Kite Capital. In 2006, the traditional kite-making skills were recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage. Today, Weifang kites are highly sought after worldwide, and their cultural charm continues to grow.

Weifang kites are famous not only for their long history but also for their rich variety and meticulous design. Each kite embodies unique cultural meanings and exceptional craftsmanship, showcasing the wisdom and creativity of Weifang’s artisans. The kite-making process is complex, involving four main techniques: skeleton framing, papering, painting, and flying. High-quality bamboo is selected and treated through various processes to form the kite’s frame. Then, materials such as mulberry paper, silk, or cotton paper are used to cover the frame, ensuring the kite is both light and sturdy. The designs are often painted using fine Chinese brush techniques, with vibrant colors and beautiful patterns. Finally, adjustments to the flying technique ensure that the kite soars smoothly.

In recent years, while traditional methods are still preserved, modern materials like nylon fabric and carbon steel tubes have been introduced, making kites more durable. Compared to older versions, modern Weifang kites are more intricate, fly higher, and have become even more popular. 

Well, that’s the end of our podcast. Our theme music is by the famous film score composer Roc Chen. We want to thank our writer Lü Weitao, translator Li Xintian, and copy editor Pu Ren. And thank you for listening. We hope you enjoyed it, and if you did, please tell a friend so they, too, can understand The Context.