Kite fans have united in a call for the city to designate five open-space areas for the enjoyment of both enthusiasts and the public in Shanghai.

They believe better supervision will lead to increased safety.

Leaders of the city's kiting clubs reportedly told Youth Daily that they are lobbying government authorities. Their preferred sites are beaches in Fengxian and Jinshan districts, the Daning Greenland in Zhabei District, the Century Avenue in Pudong, and the youth outdoor activity center, Oriental Land in Qingpu District.

The kiting leaders told Youth Daily they are confident the plan will be approved before June.

The fans' association said it planned to hold competitions and festivals at the venues.

The number of kiting lovers in the city has been increasing rapidly over the years as booming downtown reconstruction programs create more open squares and greenery areas.

However, the sport received a blow in October of 2002 as the city banned kiting in parks.

"Crowds of tourists were kiting in the park then," said Sun Jiayi, an official with Century Park in Pudong. "Some of them just left the lines twisted in the tree branches and left after the kites broke and fell, causing damage to the plants."

She said the kiting lines are also a potential danger. "A line connected to pull a large flying kite could be as sharp as a blade."

(Shanghai Daily January 30, 2007)