Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance

Do you know that the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance (大坑舞火龍) has a history of over 130 years?

Uh…what “Tai Hang”? What “fire dragon”? What “dance”?

Let’s go through the whole thing step by step, shall we? *bow*

Tai Hung (大坑, literally “big water channel”) is an area in mid-north of Hong Kong Island. It was given the name because there is a watercourse flowing through it, from Mount Butler to the sea. It has been a traditional residential area even before its redevelopment in 1990s.

Yeah, yeah. I know you are excited about the fire dragon part. I am onto it, alright?

Legend has it that, in 1880, a plague stroke Tai Hang just a few day before the Mid-Autumn Festival. A fortunate teller predicted that, in order to drive away the misfortune, the villagers needed to set a fire dance for three days during the coming festival. Hearing the words, the villagers built a huge dragon out of straw, put incense sticks on it and lit the sticks. Then they held the “flaming dragon”, played drums, ignited firecrackers and dance for three days.

Guess what? The plague disappeared without any medical intervention!

So, this tradition has been practiced during Mid-Autumn Festival since then. And it’s a pretty famous event that attracts lots of people every year, including foreigners and photographers.

During the SARS outbreak in 2003, an extra fire dragon dance was also held to pray for Hongkongers’ fortune and health.

Later, this event has been announced as an intangible cultural heritage in 2011.

What? It’s not the fire-breathing dragon you expect?

But come on! Where else can you find a fire dragon dancing?