As the three-day Qingming Festival holiday approaches its end, we now explore a little more about the festival traditions. Go anywhere in China on a clear day in springtime and you're bound to see people flying kites.

It's a favourite outdoor activity in China around the Qingming festival, whether in the city or in the countryside. But how did it all begin? And why is it so popular?

There's a saying in China: when the willow tree breaks into buds, it's time to fly a kite. It's a tradition that's shared across the country.

Go anywhere in China on a clear day in springtime and you're bound to see people flying kites.

The earliest kites were commonly used by the military as a means of communication.

Cao Wei, folklorist, said, "The oldest record of a kite is from over 2000 years ago. Carpenter Lu Ban left his precise instructions for making a kite with bamboo."

In the late 10th century, kite flying gradually shifts from military to recreational use, mainly for royals. Some kites even had whistles. When the wind blew, the kites would make sounds similar to the "Zheng", a traditional zither instrument. Combining the word "Feng" which means the wind, with the instrument "Zheng", you got "Feng Zheng", this is the Chinese word for kite.

An ancient sport it may be. But there are also some other reasons for flying a kite flying in spring.

Cao said, "In the old days, people would cut the string when flying a kite, to release the bad luck from the previous year. Landing your kite on someone else's roof was also thought to be a bad sign."

When it comes to crafting kites, Beijing has a lot to offer. This famous "Taiping drums and gongs" kite has a series of mechanisms that turn it into a mini-percussion ensemble.

Kong Lingmin, Cao's kites, said, "When the wind blows, it turns this part around. The drum stick then hits the drums and gets the beat going."

Then, there's the "sprinkler kite", with its paper box full of shredded colored papers.

Kong said, "When the kite reaches a certain height, the lid of the paper box will open and sprinkle colored papers, just like fairies spreading flowers. There are also kites with fire crackers that can be set off in the sky. And kites carrying lanterns in the night sky, like twinkle twinkle little star."

And don't forget about the good old-fashioned "swallow kite". A childhood memory for many here in China.

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