China News Service, Ningbo, February 21 (Lin Bo, Zhu Haisheng, Zhou Dan) There is an old saying in Ningbo, Zhejiang, that you eat melon seeds in the first month, and release the harriers in February.

　　With a sharp bamboo knife in hand, a bamboo board is divided into thin bamboo strips, and then a small knife is used to process them into parts... In Duan Zhenli's hands, a kite skeleton has begun to take shape.

　　Duan Zhenli, 58, is the head coach of Ningbo Kite Association and Ningbo Kite Team. He has been in contact with kites for decades.

　　"Yarrier, that is, a kite." Duan Zhenli said that when he was a child, it was an extremely powerful thing to have a harrier made by himself. "Unfortunately, there are not many people who can make a harrier now."

Duan Zhenli makes kites.

Photo by Zhu Haisheng

　　As a master kite maker, Duan Zhenli can make all kinds of traditional kites.

In his studio, you can see realistic kites made by him such as disc eagles, owls and butterflies.

　　"To make a kite, you have to go through the process of tying, pasting, painting, etc. To play well, you must not only have strong hands-on ability, but also have a certain cultural quality." Duan Zhenli bluntly said that it is not bad to be able to do it, but to do it well. It is also necessary to let go, so as to truly appreciate the sense of achievement it brings.

　　Duan Zhenli said that he grew up in Yuyao, Ningbo, and learned to make kites from the craftsmen in the village since he was a child. The "clothing harrier" and "belly bee harrier" characteristic of eastern Zhejiang were his best at a young age. "When I was in college, I chose After taking a painting class, I have made great progress in kite drawing, and making kites has gradually become my hobby.”

　　After graduating from university, Duan Zhenli represented Ningbo in the Zhejiang kite competition for the first time and won three gold medals.

Later, he went to Weifang, Shandong and Beijing to participate in various kite competitions almost every year and won gold medals many times.

　　Now, as the head coach of the Ningbo kite team, Duan Zhenli has rarely participated in the competition, but devoted himself to teaching, "I want more young people to join in and continue to pass on the kite skills."

　　In Duan Zhenli's view, kites have a history of more than 2,000 years in China and have always been one of the favorite outdoor activities of the people. "Ningbo has many places suitable for kite flying. Playing kites can stretch your muscles, strengthen your body, and relax your mind. , and it has a particularly good effect on cervical spondylosis and shoulder pain.”

　　He said that kites can be flown all year round. "In Ningbo, the first month and February of the lunar calendar are the best seasons for kite flying, because the northwesterly wind is stable."

　　What makes Duan Zhenli regret is that there are many people who like kites nowadays, but not many people who can really do it.

　　A small kite string draws Duan Zhenli's determination to protect traditional skills and traditional culture.

　　Duan Zhenli believes that the excellent traditional culture must be preserved. "As an intangible cultural heritage, kites must be better passed down and developed, and the production process must be simplified. I hope more people can join the ranks of kite making, so that More people know about kite culture." (End)