Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance: Radiant Mid-Autumn Ritual Returns

Description

Tai Hang is normally a quiet, quaint neighbourhood, lined with trendy cafés and restaurants, but it certainly comes alive on an important festival: Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance.

With nearly 150 years of history, the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance is an annual landmark event of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Lasting three consecutive nights starting from the 14th night of the eighth lunar month, the tradition takes place from 24 to 26 September this year.

At the celebration, a giant fire dragon will come alive. Spanning 67 metres and adorned with over 10,000 burning incense sticks, it meanders at the beat of traditional Chinese gongs and drums and slithers to and fro, led by a team of 300 performers. Collectively, they will weave the fire dragon in a clockwise parade through the streets of Tai Hang, including Warren Street, Brown Street, Ormsby Street, Wun Sha Street, Sun Chun Street, King Street, Jones Street, Lai Yin Street and School Street.

Originally a ritual for the safety and peace of the Tai Hung residents suffering from a plague in the late 19th century, the celebration was recognised as the city’s third entry on the national list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2011.

Aside from Tai Hang, Pok Fu Lam Village will also stage its fire dragon dance on 25 September from 18:30. More than 100 villagers and volunteers will carry the dragon in a parade through the village to bring blessings to the community.