Kite-flying has been a Chinese pastime for centuries and the Liu family has catered to kite fans for three generations. Their tiny store just north of Beihai Park is filled with colorful, traditional handmade kites, each a delicate creation of bamboo and paper that's painted by hand. Some are simply designed, while others take weeks to complete; among the selections are kites shaped like dragonflies, sleek turtles, and long-finned goldfish.

San shi zhai kite is one of the most important schools of Beijing kites. It combines the characteristics of the court kite and Tsao kite and it is famous for the design concept of fine, elegant and careful that has been passed on for hundreds of years.

San shi zhai is one of the few kite shops in Beijing. People can select kites from these full ranges or customize their favorite kites as well. Customers come here can not only buy kites, if they have courage, they can also do a kite by themselves.

San shi zhai is an ancestral old shop. The owner Liu Bin is the third-generation descendant of this kite shop and these three generations have witnessed the changes of kites. At first, kites are just toys for nobles and kings, and later it gradually formed the kite culture. The most distinctive characteristic of Liu kite is that this kite school continues the elegant arts and the style of court kites.

Liu Bin’s great grandfather is a craftsman in the late Qing Dynasty. When he was young, he was selected to learn the court kite and he transferred his life-long learning to Liu Bin’s grandfather, Liu Huiren. Mr. Liu has engaged in kite-making for more than 70 years and he has been using the methods and production materials of court kite. The san shi zhai was opened by Mr. Liu in 2003 which introduced the tradition of the mysterious court kite to the society and make people closer in the distance of space and time.

There is a big stable in San shi zhai, so people can make kites in the shop. However it is difficult for the people who just want to make a only one that belongs to himself of herself. Because people have make kites by themselves from the most fundamental part of making skeleton. It is safer to let professional help you since these procedures are so technical.

San shi zhai can be described as the product of the fierce collision. For the elders, it caters for the traditional Chinese culture; for youths, it combines the fashionable trends; while for foreigners, it represents the unique Chinese culture. Nowadays, in order to promote Chinese culture better, Sanshizhai has created distinctive promotional materials and makes a big contribution for those foreigners who want to better understand Chinese culture.