Published : 02/10/2025
With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, tourists from all over the world focus their attention on a small Hong Kong community's annual grand event -- the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance (大坑舞火龍), which dates back over 140 years.
But why did Tai Hang begin this tradition of performing the Fire Dragon Dance? What makes this fire dragon dance so unique? This article will use eight numbers to introduce the stories of the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance.
Originated in 1880
The tradition of the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance can be traced back to the sixth year of the Guangxu Emperor's reign in Qing Dynasty, which is 1880. According to legend, after Tai Hang was ravaged by a typhoon, a plague broke out and many people died.
Later, village elders later received a divine message in a dream from the Bodhisattva, instructing them to create a fire dragon. This dragon was then paraded through the village around the time of the Mid-Autumn Festival, accompanied by the setting off of firecrackers.
Following this, the plague ceased. Since then, the fire dragon dance has become a tradition in Tai Hang, to ensure peace and safety for all in Tai Hang.
Listed as a national-level Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2011
In 2011, the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance, with a history of over 100 years, was inscribed on the 3rd national list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. In 2019, it further became a "National-level Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Practice Case".
300 people to carry the fire dragon
The fire dragon requires about 300 people to lift and dance with it, weaving through the main streets and alleyways of Tai Hang to the sound of gongs and drums for three consecutive nights starting from the 14th day of the 8th lunar month.
Traditionally, only men are allowed to perform the fire dragon dance, while women can only participate in segments such as the gauze lantern team, the lotus lamp team, and the music group.
45 cm-long "longevity incense"
The incense sticks inserted into the body of the Tai Hang Fire Dragon are called "Longevity Incense" (長壽香), each measuring 45 cm in length. After the parade, the remaining incense sticks on the fire dragon, known as "Dragon Incense", are distributed to the public, symbolising good luck and blessings.
Over 5 types of formations
According to the information from the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Heritage Centre, more than five different formations are displayed to the audience during the fire dragon dance, including "Two Pearls Playing with a Fire Dragon" (雙珠戲火龍), "Fire Dragon Crossing the Bridge" (火龍過橋), "Fire Dragon Coiling Around Two Pillars" (火龍纏雙柱), "Dragon Forms a Knot" (起龍結團，又稱打龍餅), and "Lantern and Fire Dragon Reunite" (綵燈火龍結團圓).
67 metres long
Every year, the residents of Tai Hang craft a new fire dragon for the event. The fire dragon is composed of a head, a tail, and a 32-section body, measuring approximately 67 metres in length, equivalent to the length of six double-decker buses.
The skeletons of the dragon's head and tail are made of flexible rattan sticks, and the spine of the dragon's body is a 2-cm thick rope. The craftsmen cover the rattan sticks and rope with straw, which is used for inserting the burning incense sticks.
Registration in July
Around July of each year, the Tai Hang Residents' Welfare Association which organises the fire dragon dance, begins to accept registrations from residents to participate in the fire dragon dance, and arranges for them to receive training in advance.
Begins from 14th to 16th of the eighth lunar month
The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance is held for three consecutive nights every year on the 14th (Welcoming the Moon), 15th (Moon Viewing) and 16th (Sending the Moon Away) day of the eighth lunar month.
On the evening of the 14th day of the eighth lunar month, the event's commander-in-chief will preside over a worship ceremony at the Lin Fa Kung (蓮花宮) in Tai Hang. Conducted in the Hakka dialect, the ritual involves the dotting the eyes of the dragon's head to "animate" it, followed by adorning it with flowers and red ribbons.
The fire dragon is then paraded through the area encompassing Wun Sha Street and Tung Lo Wan Road, marking the official commencement of the dance.
The fire dragon dance continues on the evening of the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, which is the Mid-Autumn Festival.
On the 16th day of the eighth lunar month, the "Farewell to the Dragon" ceremony is held.
The fire dragon is paraded counter-clockwise around the Tai Hang community and then transported by truck to the Causeway Bay waterfront near Victoria Park Road. Devotees gather at the pier to worship the fire dragon and express gratitude for divine protection.
Afterwards, the fire dragon and its ceremonial plaque are cast into the sea in a ritual known as "Dragon Returning to Heaven" (龍歸天), symbolising the dragon carrying away the community's misfortunes into the sea, thus concluding the three-day Fire Dragon Dance festivities.
Read more: Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance dances its way onto China's national list of Intangible Cultural Heritage