More than 1,000 kites filled the skies of Weifang, China, on Saturday. The colorful display was part of the Weifang International Kite Festival.

Each year, kite makers and kite lovers attend the festival. The event showcases kites that look like dragons, pandas, birds, and camels. Some are mythical characters from old stories. There’s even a life-size car!  

The eastern Chinese coastal city calls itself the “kite capital of the world.” Locals say there is nothing that can’t sail the skies of Weifang.

Traditionally, kites were made with materials like paper and silk. Even hundreds of years ago, China had plenty of both. Now nylon fabrics are more common. Craftspeople also make bigger, more elaborate designs. One festival kite was a centipede measuring 230 feet long.

Even though kites may have changed over the years, they are some of the oldest toys ever. But they haven’t been only for children. Benjamin Franklin used them to study electricity. Scientists tossed them aloft to learn about weather. Farmers in India are protesting for higher prices for their crops. In February, they flew kites to ensnare police drones.

All flying things need lift. Birds and airplanes create their own. Kites get lift from wind. So if you want to fly a kite, check to see if there’s some wind. Without wind, your kite is staying on the ground.

The wind blows to the south and goes around to the north; around and around goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns. — Ecclesiastes 1:6