A major exhibition of kite art and the art of kite flying from China's "kite capital," Weifang in Shandong Province, is now off the ground at Shanghai's Changfeng Park.

More than 4,000 exquisite kites of various designs and shapes — including birds, ocean creatures, insects and cartoon characters — are on display. The most spectacular are two 60-meter-long dragon kites and a 10-meter-high phoenix kite which in flight combine to create a traditional Chinese "propitious ambience."

"It's the first time that our park has held such a large kite exhibition," says Shu Xinyuan, an official with Changfeng Park. "It's a good occasion to promote China's brilliant and age-old kite culture."

With a history going back 2,300 years, Chinese kite art has developed over the millennia in terms of the shape of the kites, their color and their differing characteristics in flight.

Long recognized as a "kite own," Weifang has lately seen a boom in its kitemaking industry which dates from the Song Dynasty (960- 1279). Weifang kites are famous throughout the world for their elegance, bright colors and delicate craftsmanship. The people of ancient China always had the basic building materials with which to make kites — silk and bamboo — close at hand. When paper was invented in China about 1,800 years ago, the making of kites became a pastime most people could indulge in.

Originally a simple flat rectangle, the kite form gradually evolved into complex three-dimensional shapes which were elaborately decorated and flown on religious and ceremonial occasions to ensure fertility, happiness or victory.

The designs on most Chinese kites also have symbolic meanings or are illustrations from Chinese folklore and history. Tortoises, cranes and peaches symbolize long life, butterflies and flowers represent harmony and a dragon design stands for power and prosperity. "Chinese people thought that by flying kites they could avoid bad luck and the higher the kite was flown, the more prosperous they would become," says Tao Yindi, a 80-year-old local woman. "When I was young, it was a popular hobby for every kid." During the exhibition visitors can also enjoy watching professional kiteflying performances presented by an expert kiteflying team from Weifang.

They will give visitors tips on how to fly a kite high and far.

(Shanghai Daily October 30, 2004)