Blending traditional Chinese kitemaking skills and kite forms with recycled materials, Chinese kitemaker Han Fushan is making some very unique kites.
The traditional materials for Chinese kites range from silk and rice paper to fiber made from plants. Split bamboo, which is very flexible, is used for the framing. These materials have been the basis for Chinese kites for hundreds of years.
However, Han Fushan is adding a new element to the process: recycled plastic bags in many colours to replace the more expensive silk and rice paper.
In a feature story in the November 8, 2009 edition of New Tang Dynasty Television, Han Fushan's kiite making is shown with video of the kite maker and his wonderful creations.
Formerly a construction engineer who worked with architectural drawings, Han turned his skills into a new hobby, kite making, in 2000. To date he has created more than 600 original kites which he flies regularly in a park near his home.
Han's friends are saving bags for him and look forward to viewing his new creations on his daily morning outing in the park. He has gathered a regular following of spectators who sometimes assist him in launching his creations.
Han is a true kite artist and his kites, as shown in the video story on New Tang Dynasty Television, are creative, colourful and noteworthy.
The joy of kite making is evident in the work and the smile of Han Fushan.
Note: check out all the references on this story in the Reference link below. Original credit for the story goes to the Reuters News Agency. Reuters also has the original video on their site.