Hong Kong’s legendary “Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance” returns this September
Hang
Fire
Dragon
Dance
will
feature
more
than
300
performers
parading
a
67-metre-long
dragon
through
the
grid-like
streets
of
the
charming
Tai
Hang
district.
(Photo:
Hong
Kong
Tourism
Board)
Hong
Kong’s
legendary
Tai
Hang
Fire
Dragon
Dance
roars
back
to
life
this
Mid-Autumn
Festival,
reigniting
the
flames
of
this
revered
ritual
for
the
first
time
since
2019.
Scheduled
to
take
place
on
three
consecutive
nights
from
28th to
30th September
2023,
the
flamboyant
dance
will
feature
more
than
300
performers
parading
a
majestic
67-metre-long
dragon
through
the
grid-like
streets
of
the
charming
Tai
Hang
district.
This
year’s
event
will
feature
a
number
of
exciting
new
elements,
including
a
special
performance
by
next-generation
dragon
performers,
a
LED
giant
flower
plaque
with
a
dragon
head
near
the
entrance
for
photo
opportunities,
and
an
extended
viewing
zone
to
accommodate
more
spectators
along
Wun
Sha
Street
and
Tung
Lo
Wan
Road.
The
history
and
significance
of
the
event
can
also
be
discovered
during
the
daytime
at
the
recently
opened
Tai
Hang
Fire
Dragon
Heritage
Centre,
which
provides
a
fascinating
insight
into
the
143-year-old
tradition.
The
dragon’s
intricate
construction
requires
over
a
month
of
dedicated
hard
work
by
a
team
of
skilled
and
experienced
craftspeople,
who
create
the
dragon
by
hand
using
pearl
straw,
rattan
and
hemp
rope.
Comprising
32
segments,
the
body
of
the
dragon
is
adorned
with
12,000
illuminated
incense
sticks,
with
the
head
alone
weighing
50
kilograms.
This
smoky,
fiery
spectacle
is
found
uniquely
in
Hong
Kong,
making
it
a
one-of-a-kind
display.
Keeper
of
the
Ancient
Flame
Originating
over
140
years
ago,
the
Fire
Dragon
Dance
emerged
as
Tai
Hang
grappled
with
the
hardships
of
plague
within
its
farming
and
fishing
communities.
In
an
inspirational
dream,
a
village
elder
was
instructed
to
create
a
dragon
adorned
with
smoldering
incense
sticks
and
parade
it
through
the
streets
to
save
the
village.
Since
then,
the
ritual
has
been
performed
every
year
with
its
distinctive
character
and
has
established
itself
as
one
of
Hong
Kong’s
most
important
cultural
celebrations,
with
the
dance
included
on
the
National
List
of
Intangible
Cultural
Heritage.
“We
are
thrilled
that
the
Tai
Hang
Fire
Dragon
Dance
is
returning
this
season
after
a
four-year
hiatus,
and
look
forward
to
welcoming
local
and
global
visitors
to
join
the
celebrations.
The
dance
is
more
than
just
a
performance
–
it
is
an
inseparable
part
of
our
lives
and
we
are
proud
that
traditions
like
ours
will
always
live
on
as
we
pass
the
legacy
on
to
the
next
generation,”
shares
Cheung
Kwok
Ho,
Almon,
Acting
Commander
in
Chief
of
the
Tai
Hang
Fire
Dragon
Dance
and
a
Tai
Hang
local.
A
Hub
for
Celebration
and
Preservation
Adding
to
the
festivities
is
the
recently
opened
Tai
Hang
Fire
Dragon
Heritage
Centre,
housed
in
a
Grade
3
Historic
Building
at
12
School
Street.
The
centre
holds
exhibitions
and
features
a
restaurant
offering
dishes
inspired
by
the
delectable
cuisine
of
the
Hakka
community,
who
were
the
original
settlers
of
Tai
Hang.
“The
Tai
Hang
Fire
Dragon
Heritage
Centre
is
a
celebration
of
the
excitement
of
the
Fire
Dragon
dance,
and
provides
fascinating
insight
into
the
history,
traditions
and
intangible
cultural
heritage
of
the
dance
itself
as
well
as
Hakka
culture,”
says
Vice
Chairman
Anthea
Lo.
“The
Centre
is
housed
in
a
historic
building
that
dates
back
to
the
late
1940s,
and
is
a
great
example
of
urban
revitalisation
that
serves
as
a
living
link
between
the
historical
traditions
of
the
fire
dragon
dance
and
the
local
community
of
today.”
The
City’s
Enchanting
Nighttime
Spectacular
In
addition
to
the
Fire
Dragon
Dance,
Hong
Kong
boasts
an
array
of
festive
nighttime
events
that
are
not
to
be
missed
this
Mid-Autumn
Festival.
The
city
will
be
illuminated
by
hundreds
of
lanterns
festooning
the
city,
as
families
gather
at
the
glittering
harbourfront
and
at
parks
adorned
with
dazzling
decorations
and
lighting
displays
to
enjoy
the
glow
of
the
moon
and
indulge
in
festive
mooncakes.
Hong
Kong
welcomes
all
to
come
and
immerse
in
the
enchanting
atmosphere
of
the
Mid-Autumn
Festival.
