The kite is a symbol of Chinese handicraft （手工艺）. Flying a kite is a very popular activity in China. And kite-flying is now believed to be good for the health.
The Chinese kite first appeared in the wars of the Spring and Autumn Period over 2,000 years ago. Mo Zi spent three years building a wooden kite but it failed after flying for a day. Then craftsman Lu Ban made the kite with thin wood and bamboo. And it had the bird's name of "Yuan". After the Han dynasty（朝代）, paper was introduced into the kite-making. So the kite got the name "Zhi Yuan", as "Zhi " in Chinese means paper. In the late Tang dynasty, people added strings (琴弦） to kites. When wind came, those kites would sound like guzheng, thus getting the name of "Fengzheng".
As "the World Kite Capital", Weifang in Shandong province once made a kite over 300 meters long and in the shape of a centipede（蜈蚣）with a dragon's head. The kite won first place in the International Kite Festival in Italy. Now Weifang International Kite Festival is held from 20th to 25th in April every year. It draws（吸引） many fans around the world.
If you are interested in flying a kite, choose a sunny and windy day to enjoy the open air with your family.
