Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance Headlines Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration in Hong Kong Events International

Beginning October 3, 2017 through October 6, 2017, neighborhoods across Hong Kong are commemorating the Mid-Autumn Festival with magical exhibitions, including traditional cultural shows, lantern displays and the customary sharing and consumption of tasty moon cakes.

Among the grandest of all festive activities for the four nights is the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance with more than 70,000 sticks of burning incense and the participation of 300 athletes for awe-inspiring dance of flames in celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Since 1880, the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance has been an annual event to pray for good health and prosperity.

Tai Hang was originally a small village, home to farmers and fishermen. The village was hit by a plague in the late 19th century. According to folklore, the Buddha told a village elder to perform the Fire Dragon Dance and burn firecrackers during the Mid-Autumn Festival to drive the plague away. Accompanied by drummers and erupting firecrackers, they followed orders and danced for three days and three nights – and the plague disappeared.

The Fire Dragon is made up of 32 segments, weighing more than 200 pounds, with the head alone weighing 100 pounds. For more information on Mid-Autumn Festival and the Fire Dragon Dance, visit DiscoverHongKong.com or TaiHangFireDragon.hk.