CULTURE DAY | International and HMT Students Craft Heritage Kites to Greet Spring
23 Mar 2026
Blending ancient Chinese traditions with vibrant international energy, GLD and International Culture Seekers Society organized a DIY event on the Spring Equinox (Chunfen), where students crafted and flew their own traditional Shaan Yan kites – an intangible cultural heritage item.
The event kicked off with Jiaying Li, the president of the International Culture Seekers Society, introducing attendees to the significance of Chunfen. She explained its role as a pivotal point in the solar calendar marking equal day and night, symbolizing balance and renewal. Jiaying particularly highlighted the custom of kite flying during this time, emphasizing that it traditionally represents letting go of misfortune while embracing good health, fortune, and aspirations for higher achievements as spring awakens nature.
Following this cultural immersion, students enthusiastically engaged in painting the Shaan Yan Kite. Armed with brushes and paint palettes featuring auspicious symbols often found on these classic Beijing-style kites (like bats for luck or peonies for prosperity), they meticulously added personalized splashes of color to pre-printed frames depicting stylized Shaan Yan.
The culmination was a joyous scene on the school grounds. Against clear skies symbolic of spring's arrival after winter dormancy - perfect kite-flying weather according to tradition - dozens of vibrantly colored Shaan Yan soared upwards under student guidance.
This hands-on Chunfen celebration immersed international students in China's living cultural heritage. Through crafting the traditional Shaan Yan kites, they connected deeply with enduring seasonal customs – bridging past traditions with present creativity to welcome spring's new beginnings.