Children's kites are often small, simple and covered
with paper, while adults' kites may be more complex, cloth-covered, and feature
one or more wind flutes that play melodies as the kites fly.
A typical adult's kite has four parts: the body, the
steering string, the flying string and flutes. The frame is made of the smooth
outer bamboo stalk and is well polished. Kite-makers shape bamboo straps into a
crescent two to three meters long and one meter wide. After that, they cover
the frame with pieces of cotton cloth or carefully glued paper. If one half of
the kite is heavier than the other, the steering string will help balance it.
This string also serves lo direct flight and protect the kite wings from
breaking if the wind is too strong. The flying string is also made of bamboo
and can be as long as 100m to 150m. Young bamboo straps the size of chopsticks
are tied together, then boiled in water or even in traditional Chinese medicine
and salt so that the string becomes soft and flexible.
Kites not only attract people by their shapes and
colors but also by their flutes. Flutes of different sizes and materials can
make the sound of birds, car horns, gongs or music. The mouth of the flute must
be skillfully carved so that it can properly receive the wind and create the
desired sound.
Today, villagers build more sophisticated kites in
the shape of phoenixes, butterflies and dragons. They replace thick bamboo
strings with thinner bamboo or plastic rope. Modern kites are very light and
cost little since the materials to make them are readily available.
People often fly kites in the late afternoon as the
sun begins to set. Normally, two people fly one kite. One person holds the
flying string while the other takes the kite and runs into the wind until the
wind lifts the kite.
The two may keep the kite high in the sky from day
to day, even from summer to autumn.
Every year, kite-flying competitions take place in
many northern and central provinces. The rules vary from place to place. In
general, the most beautiful kite with the most interesting flute melodies wins.
However, Quang Yen Town (Quang Ninh Province) holds a kite-fighting
competition: regardless of design, kites that hit or break other kites win.