SOCIAL MEDIA

06 October 2014

Flying Kites

I think I had heard at some point that kite-flying is a pretty big pastime in China, but I never quite realized it until I saw for myself the dozens of families who gradually gather in public parks and squares on the afternoons and evenings of weekends to fly kites.

We went out to fly kits with a young friend of ours during the heat of the afternoon--which is why for the most part the field is so empty, most people prefer to wait till the sun starts setting. Quite wise of them. By the time we got hungry and left for dinner, I counted 2 dozen kites in the sky, and we knew more would be going up as the afternoon progressed. So many kites in a limited space means you have to have some skills as a flier--I witnessed a few crashed perpetuated by less-than-expert handlers.



The precise moment when her hawk-kite decided to attack Angel.


Did you know that rainbow-patterned kites can be used for practicing the names of colors in English?
Flying Kites in China

Not everyone flying a kite is their with their family or children. There's quite a few older adults who come out with some pretty impressive kite-flying equipment, like this gentleman. You can tell by the looks of that reel that he means business when it comes to flying a kite for hours at a time.
Flying Kites in China

Just one more little reason that we're loving it here. Angel has always loved kites. He had one back in Michigan that he'd get out from time to time to fly in our yard when a strong breeze was blowing. It's pretty awesome to come to a place where it's not the least bit unusual for grown men to enjoy flying these gaudy little contraptions.

When's the last time you flew a kite?
Jen Lud said...

Holy smokes, I can't remember the last time I flew a kite! I do know they have a kite flying festival thing a few towns south of mine. I've never been but I heard it's pretty awesome - I bet all those kites look so pretty up in the sky!

Tina @ Girl-Meets-Globe said...

Flying kits is so fun and relaxing!! I just recently learned that retired English men like to take out these beautiful remote sailboats. I enjoyed watching them too! I can't even think the last time I properly flew a kite!!

Moonofsilver said...

wow, what fun! I wish more people in the states did things like this. We all seemed stuck with our computers now :P

Bekah Loves Blog said...

Ahhh so colorful! I missed out on the kite-flying as a kid and didn't realize there was such advanced equipment for the hobbyist. Looks fun!

Jo said...

It seems like kite flying is more common in Asian countries. We have lots of kite flying areas here too but I haven't flown a kite in years. It is interesting to know how those colourful kites were used to teach the colours.

Jo
Jo's Jumbled Jardinière

Kari said...

I imagine it's beautiful seeing all the kites flying at once, painting the sky. We used to get kites every year for Easter and then go out and fly them. They'd usually break or get tangled in a tree, though. What a great way to spend the afternoon:) Glad you're liking it there so much!

Angi said...

Oh my gosh, that looks like so much fun! I haven't flown a kite in years...Isaiah and I bought a cheap plastic kite about 5 years ago but if I recall, it wasn't quite windy enough the day we bought it to really get it off the ground much. Wind in Sitka tends to be really gusty...so you get the kite up for a minute and then it comes crashing down, haha. I love that old guy with the gigantic reel - he is SERIOUS.

Bethany Carson said...

Looks like fun! We used to fly them as a family when I was a small child by the St. John's Bridge in Portland!

Veronica Lee Burns said...

this looks like so much fun...kevin loves flying kites too. In college him and his buddy would go out and fly kites together...so cute

Julia said...

What a fun pastime! I haven't flown a kite in ages, but I remember it being really fun!

Esther said...

Oh that looks like so much fun!! Kites are incredibly awesome, must be quite tricky when there so many in the sky though!

MontgomeryFest said...

it looks so sunny and warm! such a great activity for it too!

Corlie said...

They're lovely,I love watching people fly their kites! I just bought some to take home for Pete's little nephews as Christmas presents.

The Lady Okie said...

I have no idea the last time I flew a kite! That sounds like a lot of fun, though. Glad Angel lived through the attack :)

Britt said...

I've never flown a kite! I love how colorful they are :)

Saxon @ Lets Drink Coffee, Darling said...

How cool! Those kites are pretty - it looks like a lot of fun! That's really cool they have such a spacious park like that! Tyler has a kite, but we have actually never flown it together! I was probably 6 or 7 last time I flew a kite...but I'm thinking that needs to change soon!

Charlene Maugeri said...

Whoa! That's so cool.I never would have thought grown men would be go out and fly a kite by themselves for hours. And have all the extra equipment. Although, now that I think about it, is it really all that different from fishing or hunting? Perhaps not.

Unknown said...

Wow, it has been so long since I flew a kite. This looks like so much fun!

Paige @ Reasons to Come Home said...

I'm not sure I've ever flown a kite. Is that bad?

Jenn said...

I would totally go fly a kit by my self! That's awesome!

LauraEhlers said...

How fun! We use to add kites to our kids' Easter Baskets - but we haven't flown them since. Love the photos - especially the older man with his fancy kite flying wheel!!

My New Happy said...

Beautiful pictures! We love to fly kites when we visit the beach. So glad you're having a wonderful time in China.