How Did Bamboo Strips and Newspaper Become a Kite?

For many children born in China in the 1960s and growing up through the late 1960s and 1970s, a kite did not necessarily come from a shop. Thin bamboo strips, old newspaper or wrapping paper, cotton thread and a little flour paste were often enough. Shapes and construction varied by region. Some kites were simple diamonds, while others imitated swallows. Suitable bamboo and adult help were not equally available in every household.

The frame was tied first and the paper covering pasted over it. The difficult part was not producing the outline but balancing the two sides. A strip that was thicker on one side, wrinkled paper or an off-centre bridle could make the kite spin or dive. The tail was not merely decorative. If it was too short, the kite lost directional stability; if it was too heavy, the kite struggled to rise. After the first attempt, children often returned to patch the paper, move a knot or add another length to the tail.

Flying was rarely a completely solitary activity. One child held the kite facing the wind while another ran with the line. They waited when the air was still and changed position when the wind shifted. Once the kite rose, children compared stability and height, and might chase one together when its line broke. The pleasure was not confined to the moment in the sky. Ordinary materials became a working toy only through making, failure, adjustment and cooperation.