After its appearance in China, the kite migrated to Japan, Korea, Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), India, Arabia, and North Africa, then farther south into the Malay Peninsula, Indonesia, and the islands of Oceania as far east as Easter Island. Wind Spinners Since kites untrue of leaves have been flown in Malaya and the South Seas from time immemorial, the kite could also have been invented independently in that region.

Modern acrobatic kites use two or four lines to allow fine containment of the kite's angle to the wind. Traction kites may have an additional line to de-power the kite and quick-release mechanisms to disengage flyer and kite in an emergency.