01 Flying Paper Kites and Looking for "Fun" Song Dynasty
Kites first appeared in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. According to legend, a man named Mo Di invented a flying bird made of wood in three years. Later, Lu Ban, a famous Chinese carpenter, engineer, philosopher, and inventor, improved it by using bamboo instead of wood, making it much lighter than the original wooden bird.
After paper was created, it was used to make kites, which are called "paper kites" among the people. During the Southern and Northern Dynasties, kites also played a role in transmitting information during wars.
In the Song Dynasty, "flying kites" gradually became a favorite outdoor activity. The people of the Southern Song Dynasty would write the names of disasters and diseases on paper kites and cut the thread when they were high in the sky. They believed that the paper kites would carry the diseases and bad luck with them with the wind and disappear. In China, there is an old saying that "People flying kites live longer".
According to the "Old Stories of Wulin" by Zhou Mi of the Song Dynasty, "During the Qingming Festival, people went to the suburbs to fly kites and returned at dusk." There are also vivid descriptions of the scenes of kite flying in Su Hanchen's "Spring Picture of Baizi Opera" in the Song Dynasty and "Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival" in the past dynasties.
02 Go! Let's Fly Kites!
Historical Ruins of Taimiao Square太庙广场遗址
The Taimiao Temple of the Southern Song Dynasty was the ancestral temple where Southern Song emperors paid homage to their ancestors. It was first built in the fourth year of Shaoxing in the Southern Song Dynasty (1134 A.D.). In 1995, a cultural square was built on the site of the ruins, with large green lawns and open spaces on either side of the square's central axis.
You can stroll here, fly kites, and reminisce about the Southern Song Dynasty.
Wushan Square 吴山广场
Wushan Square is an old-fashioned kite-flying spot. The square is open and spacious. Flying kites at the foot of Wushan Hill is like competing with the Chenghuang Pavilion on the top of the hill to see which one is higher. After the kite-flying, you can also go shopping and satisfy your stomach in the surrounding old-fashioned food streets.
City Balcony, Qianjiang New City
On the city balcony of the Qianjiang New City, citizens who live nearby can often be seen strolling and jogging here. With the refreshing river, the breeze blows gently, your whole body will feel refreshed. It is recommended to walk along the river, see the water and sky, fly kites, and let go of bad feelings. There is also a wonderful light show available at nightfall.