Chinese Kites| Ancient Chinese kites adding a touch of the Orient to your kite flying

Chinese kites are distinctive and have a long history. You may be familiar with some of the more popular styles, like the Chinese dragon kites. Chinese kites are classified as four basic types, which are then broken down still further.Ancient China kites were first developed as a new technology. They were used in war to spy on the enemy and deliver messages. Later, kites became a favorite pastime and were thought to be a healthy exercise.

When kites became so popular, it became necessary to classify the various types of kites. There are a handful of cities in China that are associated with kite-making. These cities are Weifang, Tianjin and Beijing.

Chinese kites are traditionally made of small slivers of bamboo that are fastened together to make the shape of the kite. This framework is then covered with a light, tough paper or thin, raw silk. Once it is all covered, it is hand painted, creating a work of art. Even though these Chinese kites are being made today, they are referred to as ancient Chinese kites because they are made using traditional materials, tools and skills.

Of the four basic styles of ancient Chinese kites, the centipede is probably the best known. This is the type we see when we think of the Chinese dragon kites. A large head, usually of a dragon, is made of bamboo strips and covered with paper or fabric. It is then decorated. The body is made of a large number of flat kites that are connected by a piece of bamboo and several strings. A centipede kite can be quite short or can be 900 feet or longer. Despite their size, they can be fairly easy to fly. The long tail really adds a lot of lift. They are truly spectacular to see flying in the sky.

The next type of Chinese kite is the hard-winged kites. The frames for these kites are symmetrically attached to a rigid central frame. The covering also creates more rigidity to the overall kite. The lower tail is loose so it catches the wind. Common decorative themes for hard-winged frames include flying tigers and people.

Soft-winged kites are made with rigid upper rims on the arms with the lower portions being flexible. This type often has multiple wings. When flying, these kites give an impressive appearance of real flight. Decorative themes common to the soft-winged kites are goldfish, birds and insects.

The final type of ancient Chinese kites is the flat kite. Remember when we talked about flat kites making up the body and tail of the centipede kite? All sides of the flat kite's frame are rigid, making a single-plane when covered by paper or fabric. These kites are very easy to fly. Sometimes whistles, rings or bells are attached. These flat kites are built in many complicated shapes, with edges numbering in multiples of four for luck.

These four classifications are further broken down into animals, birds, insects, people, lettering and more. Kites are also highly collectible in China, many of which have found themselves into museums as examples of fine artwork.

If these kites intrigue you, that's good! Maybe you'll want to try your own hand at kite flying or collecting. Traditional ancient Chinese kites can be purchased online. Prices will vary according to the size, design and type of kite you choose. We Here at SkyDancerKites.com want to help you find a great new kite that fits your personality and will be fun to fly.