<P> Early unmanned hot air balloons were used in China . Zhuge Liang of the Shu Han kingdom , during the Three Kingdoms era ( 220 -- 280 AD ) , used airborne lanterns for military signaling . These lanterns are known Chinese lanterns ( simplified Chinese : 孔明灯 ; traditional Chinese : 孔明燈 ) . </P>
<P> Early unmanned hot air balloons were used in China . Zhuge Liang of the Shu Han kingdom , during the Three Kingdoms era ( 220 -- 280 AD ) , used airborne lanterns for military signaling . These lanterns are known Chinese lanterns ( simplified Chinese : 孔明灯 ; traditional Chinese : 孔明燈 ) . </P>
where was the first hot air balloon invented
where was the first hot air balloon invented
China
China