For my independent project, I selected the topic of "kites" and "kite making" in China (yesterday, I actually changed the topic to environmental NGOs, but I am nevertheless going to continue my investigation of the kite scene). Kites are such a important part of Chinese history and culture. Not only were some of the earliest kites invented in China, but they have contributed to military strategies, favorite pass time activities, and traditional Chinese folk art. In addition to their cultural significance, kites are also very valuable to me for personal reasons. When I was young, my dad used to make me swallow shaped kites out of bamboo. Of course being young, I would play with them without much thought and recklessly rip the thin paper material within a few days.
Nowadays, I have more appreciation for kites, and today, I visited another kite store in Beijing. The ride was about an hour long, and the store was very different from the last kite store I visited. The store owner was quite loquacious and I learned a lot--some good, some bad, some kind of sketchy. He introduced himself as from Weifang, which is recognized as the birthplace of kites, and every year Weifang hosts an international kite festival that draws tens of thousands of people, which I plan on ditching (or rather rescheduling) finals for. Life is good!
The couple who owns the store
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