Various kites are shown at the 2015 Weifang International Kite Festival in April. [Ju Chuanjiang/China Daily]

In Weifang, Shandong province, kites are not just toys. They symbolize both culture and an industry for the city.

Widely known as the world capital of kites, Weifang has a history of flying kites dating back about 2,400 years.

Legends say that ancient Chinese philosopher Mozi made the first kite in the world in the Lushan Mountain area, which now belongs to Weifang. It is said that the kite, made of wood, took him three years to finish but then fell and broke on the first day it flew.

Others believe that the true inventor of kites was Mozi's contemporary Lu Ban, a famous craftsman and engineer who has long been regarded as the patron saint of Chinese builders and carpenters. His kite, made of wood and bamboo in the shape of a magpie, flew three days before it fell, an ancient book records.

A statue of Lu stands in front of the gate of the Weifang World Kite Museum, the largest kite museum in the world.