Hand fans have two general categories according to their shapes:

1. Flat fans (“平扇” pǐng shàn)(can not be folded): Circular fans, palm-leaf fans, straw fans, feather fans, and so on.

2. Folding fans (“折扇” zhÄ› shàn) (can be freely opened): Silk folding fans, paper folding fans, sandalwood fans, and so on.

According to the different materials, major types of fan include the feather fan, palm-leaf fan, and silk fan:

1. Feather fans

As its name suggests, feather fans are made of feathers. Scholars believe it to be the oldest type of Chinese fan. The Chinese character for the word fan includes the word feather as part of the composition. The feathers from eagles, magpies, cranes, kingfishers and peacocks have all served as feather fan material.

Up to the end of the Han dynasty about 1,800 years ago, holding a feather fan was fashionable amongst the literati and officials. By the beginning of the eighth century, the feather fan had become a decoration. The emperor at that time would flank himself with 156 peacock feather fans when he received homage from his ministers.

Today, China's feather fans are made mainly of goose feathers. Most are peach-shaped, consisting of about 40 feathers. On the snow-white fans, different designs are made of gold and silver silk thread. Some include green peacock feathers as edging and may include a red velvet flower in the middle, presenting a gorgeous picture.

2. Palm-leaf fans

Compared with the feather fan, the palm-leaf fan has a history of only about 1,500 years. It is cheaper and produces lots of cooling wind which makes it a popular favorite. The process of producing a palm-leaf fan is quite complicated. First, you need a light green palm-leaf with a stalk about 15 centimeters long. Let it sit for about 20 days, then wash it and dry it until it is the color of jade.

Once you have got the color right, you press it into shape and tailor it according to its size. You then trim its edges with thread. The most famous fans of this kind are glass-white fans made of young palm leaves. This style is often painted.

3. Silk fans

The nest type fan is the silk fan. Its full-moon shape led to it being called the round fan. The frame is usually made of iron or bamboo slips. A piece of silk is stretched over the frame and is then decorated with colored drawings. For a time, this type fan was popular among young ladies in the royal court or who came from wealthy families.