Kites originated in China. The earliest kites were made by the ancient philosopher Mozi. According to "Han Feizi · Outer Storage Sayings", Mozi lived in Lushan (now in Qingzhou, Shandong) and "carved wood into a kite, which took three years to complete and flew for one day before breaking." This means that Mozi spent three years studying and finally made a wooden bird from wood, but it only flew for a day before breaking. This "wooden kite" created by Mozi is considered the earliest kite in China.

After the emergence of Chinese kites, they were quickly used for measuring and transmitting information, crossing dangerous obstacles, and other military needs. During the Tang and Song dynasties, with the emergence of papermaking industry, kites were made of paper and quickly spread to the folk, becoming a toy for entertainment.

During the Song Dynasty, kites had become widely popular among the people. With the increase in international exchanges, Chinese kites spread all over the world. First, they were introduced to neighboring countries such as Japan and Korea, then crossed oceans to reach Myanmar, Malaya, Indonesia, New Zealand, and even more distant island areas in the East. Another route saw them travel along the "Silk Road" or the routes of Mongol invasions into the Arab countries and Western Europe. Marco Polo, an Italian who had served in China for 17 years during the Yuan Dynasty, introduced kites to the West after returning home.

Weifang, Shandong is a famous place for making kites. Artisans who made kites appeared in the folk during the Ming Dynasty. In the Qing Dynasty, with the popularity of the custom of flying kites, the art of kites reached its peak. During the Daoguang period, Guo Lin wrote a bamboo branch poem on Qingming Festival, which said: "On the 14th day of the year, small children go out for fun, the paper kites and girls playing swings are more than the spring swallows coming back." Zheng Banqiao wrote a poem saying: "Paper flowers fly like snow in the sky, young girls swing around, their colorful robes fluttering in the wind, they can compete with butterflies to return in spring."

The "Weixian Annals" also records: "On Qingming Festival, young children make paper birds and play on swings. The paper birds come in various shapes, including cranes, swallows, butterflies, cicadas, and many other figures, all lifelike and full of ingenuity. By the end of the Qing Dynasty, Weifang had formed a fixed kite market, and merchants from all over the country came to buy kites in Weifang. At that time, new designs attracted customers, and pairs of butterflies flew in lines. A large number of skilled kite artisans emerged."

Weifang kites mainly have three basic forms: string, rigid-wing, and simple shape, among which the dragon-pearl worm is the most prominent. It is said to have been inspired by the dragon bone water wheel. Now it has developed into many varieties, small ones can be held in the palm, and large ones can be hundreds of meters long, with different shapes and colors. From very simple paper-covered worms with white paper bodies and red paper heads, without any drawing or color, to golden and silver painted nine-headed divine dragons. From the cleverly designed two dragons playing with pearls to three giant dragons flying in a "Y" shape in the air, "Nezha's Rebellion at the Sea," it is truly diverse and full of ingenuity.

In addition to the long string kites, Weifang also has various themes. For example, the "108 Heroes of Liangshan" features each of the 108 heroes of Liangshan with different postures, lifelike, and when they are flown up in the sky, they form a line, each holding weapons, moving with the wind. At this moment, you might faintly feel the sound of war drums, as if they are about to set off to attack the Song court...