Date: Tue, 11 Apr 1995 09:22:48 -1000 From: (I rather go fly a kite.) Message-Id: <3meku8$5vd@nic.dot.state.mn.us> Organization: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Subject: Kite flying in Beigin, China Recently, I spend four weeks in Beijing, China. This year, there are many peoply out about to fly kites. There are kites everywehe. I am native of Beijing (used to called Peking) and had been in the States for 13 years. This was my first time to go back my homeland. As far as I can remember, there were never that many petty kites in the sky. I used to build my own kite out of old newspaper. Now days many of the kites are made by porfessonial kite makers. I bought a pair of black bird kites from an old man on TenAnMan square (where the 1989's student uprising took place) for 50 yuan (about $6). They are the greatest light wind kite I have ever own. They will dance even in the wind you barely can feel. The bird's wing can be fold into two section and is easy to carry. I must to say, most of the chinese kite are hard to carry. They are made of bamboo frame and hand made rice paper. They are difficult to carry on an air plane. I saw several those larger dragen kites and made an attemp to purchase one. But I gave up at end becouse those kites are imposible to carry on board an aricraft. They are too large to travel. Nonetheless, they are nificent in the sky. At end of my trip, I was happy to meet my old master whom I had study under when I was a yougester. He had since wroitten sever books on chinese kites. It was fortunate to meet Master Wong again and had him autographing my books. Above all, it was a very good trip. But I do feel like a stranger in my homeland. hsu ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Yuan-Ming Hsu yuan-ming.hsu@pca.state.mn.us Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (GWSWPD) Phone: (612) 297-2716 520 LaFayette Road Fax: (612) 296-9707 ST. Paul, MN 55155-4194 "Mutant Ninja Geologist" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =