Fengzheng 风筝 —Kite, was first invented in China as early as 500 BC, and was originally made out of wood, and later out of bamboo and paper.
They have been used for sending messages, distributing propaganda, and even some were large enough to carry people on them for war strategic purposes.
Nowadays, the main purpose of kits is play, and in the case of some photographers, to carry cameras for bird’s-eye views. During a nice day in Shanghai, the kites fill the sky.
Children, adults, old people, all are flying kites. There is even a kite festival in Shandong province in April that I dream of one day attending!
But flight in all forms is so exhilarating to us humans, whether it is brief while on a swing, carried between 2 parents in pretend flight as a toddler, bungee jumping, parachuting, paragliding, pretending to be superman, or having a flying dream; we just wish we could do it.
Maybe part of us on some level can fly…
