Kites were invented by the Chinese people over 2000 years ago. About in the 12th century, Chinese kite spread to the West and oriental and Western kite culture was formed after years of development. In this process, the traditional culture integrated with the kite craft, and finally formed the kite culture with unique characteristics.
Uses of kite have been changed several times in history. According to historical record, kite was first used in military. In the mid Tang Dynasty (618-907), in which the society was stable and peaceful, the use of kites was gradually changed from military to entertainment. With the innovation of papermaking, the raw material of kite changed from silk to paper. Kite became popular among civilians with a richer variety of forms and reached the peak point in the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Participated by the literary, the making and the decoration of kites underwent great development. Kite making became a profession due to the large demand.
The Ming (1368-1644) and Qing dynasties, was the peak period of the Chinese kite. The kites underwent great development in size, design, decoration and flying skills. Literators at that time made kite by themselves, and sent to relatives and friends as a gift, regarding it a literary pursuit. In recent years, kite flying has publicized as a sports activity as well as entertainment.
To make a kite, first, the right kind of bamboo strips must be selected for the frame. It should be thick and strong for a kite of large dimensions in order to stand the wind pressure. The regular paper or sometime silk is used to cover the frame. Silk kites, especially, are more durable and generally of higher artistic value. Third, painting the kite may be done in each way. Kites could be generally divided into two categories: the Hard Wing and the Soft Wing. The Hard Wing can endure more air pressure and competitively fly higher, whilst the latter can fly farther, although it can not fly as high. In patterns, besides the traditional ones of animals, birds, worms, fishes, new patterns of human images emerged in modern times.
China has a large area of territory. As a traditional culture and folk art, kite has formed unique style of different regions during its development, among which the most famous ones are the styles of Beijing, Tianjin, Weifang in Shangdong Province, Sichuan and Guangdong Province.
Related English Chinese translation：
风筝是中国人在2000多年前发明的。大约在公元12世纪,中国风筝传到了西方,经过多年的发展，东、西方风筝文化逐渐形成。在这个过程中,传统文化和风筝工艺相结合,最终形成独特的风筝文化。
历史上，风筝的用途有几次转变。据历史记载,风筝首先是被用在军队。在唐代中期（公元618～907年），社会安定和平，风筝的使用逐渐从军事转到娱乐。随着造纸术的创新，风筝的原材料也由原来的丝绸变成了纸张。风筝的种类和形式越来越丰富，深受百姓们的喜爱，这在宋代（公元960～1279年） 达到了顶点。文学的渗入使风筝的制作和装饰得到了巨大的发展。对风筝的巨大需求使风筝制造成为一种专门的职业。
明代（公元1368～1644年）至清朝时期,是中国风筝发展的高峰期。巨大的发展主要体现在风筝在大小、设计、装饰和飞行能力。那时的文人把自己做的风筝看成对文学的追求，并且把它当成礼物,送给亲戚和朋友。近年来,体育和娱乐活动的宣传也经常采用风筝的形式。
制作一只风筝,首先是选择作为风筝框架的竹条种类。对于大型风筝来说，为了抵挡风的压力，竹条必须要粗大和坚固。然后用普通的纸来盖住框架，有时也可以用丝绸，丝绸风筝,尤其采用的是比较耐用的丝绸，通常具有更高的艺术价值。第三,给风筝的表面画画，这个可以采用各种各样的方法。总的来说，风筝可以分为两大类:硬机翼和软机翼。硬翼能承受更多的空气压力和飞得更高,而软翼却飞得更远。现代社会的风筝花样繁多,除传统的孩童、动物、鸟类和鱼虫，新新人类的图像也出现了。
中国幅员辽阔。作为一种传统文化与民间艺术,中国各个地区的风筝都有各自独特的风格，其中比较著名的款式有北京风筝、天津风筝、山东潍坊风筝、四川风筝和广东风筝。
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