Friday, July 09, 2010

Floating lanterns

On our final evening in Weihai, I took a long walk on the beech. The weather was was clear but somewhat breezy, so the conditions were perfect for launching floating lanterns. The lanterns are made from oiled rice paper and work the same way as hot air balloons. A small candle is inserted into the lantern, after which it is launched on a current of air. Like flying a kite, this process involves considerable skill.

Beaches are perfect for launching floating lanterns because there's considerable space and good wind. Last night, there were several groups of young men working with these bright missiles. The lanterns can travel pretty high, and may appear as small yellow dots against the sky.















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