ANOTHER FACTOID
The Chinese have been credited with creating an abundance of inventions and most scholars are unanimous about the fact that the very first kites also soared to the skies in the Middle Kingdom.
According to stories passed down across the generations, the inspiration for kites dates back almost 2,500 years to a philosopher named Mo Di, also known as Mozi (468-376 BCE), who lived on Mount Lu near Weifang in China s Shandong Province.
After spending three years creating a wooden bird in the shape of an eagle, he succeeded in keeping it airborne for one entire day before it broke. Later, Mo Di passed his skills on to his pupil Lu Ban, who came up with the idea of using the lighter bamboo, managing to keep the kite in the air for three whole days.