Health and tradition on the menu

A Beijing local, the 59-year-old recalls that decades ago, he and his peers often made kites themselves and went to the fields to fly them. They were told by old people that flying kites on Chunfen can get rid of bad luck and bring back good luck.

"It was a really happy time in my childhood. But nowadays it's hard to find a place without high buildings to fly kites in cities," says Yang, adding that the kites he made are displayed in people's homes as a decoration instead of being flown.

"Sometimes, I can see the elderly in parks fly kites. Young people and children maybe are attracted by entertainment programs on their mobile phones," jokes Yang.

Flying kites demands an appropriate wind direction and speed. It can't be too strong or too gentle. And the breeze in spring, especially on the day of Chunfen, perfectly meets those requirements, Yang says.

Yang is also an inheritor of shayan (swallow) kites in Beijing. He uses silk fabric, bamboo chips and paper to create a body of the kite and then paints various patterns on them to decorate the coverings. He has been invited by primary and middle schools to offer kite-making classes.

"My students are interested in making kites. However, they don't have a good venue to fly them and the pandemic hindered their passion to go outdoors," says Yang.