Where & When To See The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance 2024

The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance returns, just in time to celebrate the Mid-Autumn festival!

Each Mid-Autumn Festival, the quaint neighborhood of Tai Hang is transformed into a mesmerizing spectacle as a colossal, glowing dragon winds its way through the streets, carried aloft by a troupe of over 300 synchronized performers. This captivating tradition, which dates back to the 19th century, comes alive with a burst of flames, thunderous gongs, and pulsing drums that reverberate through the community.

The origins of the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance trace back to a time when the then-small Hakka village faced a devastating plague. In a desperate bid to ward off the sickness, the villagers concocted an elaborate ritual, parading an incense-laced dragon through the heart of Tai Hang. The fiery display, accompanied by the cacophony of traditional instruments, was believed to have quelled the outbreak, and the tradition has been faithfully passed down through the generations ever since.

Today, the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance is officially recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong, drawing spectators from near and far to witness the breathtaking pageantry. Over the course of three electrifying nights, the colossal, serpentine creature undulates through the narrow streets, its scales glittering with thousands of incense sticks. The mesmerizing performance culminates in a dramatic finale as the dragon dramatically rears up, its fiery breath illuminating the night sky in a stunning display of cultural legacy and community resilience.

DETAILS:

• Date: September 16-18, 2024
• Time: Around 8:15–10:30pm, (16-18 September, 2024) | Around 8:15–10pm, (17 September, 2024)
• Where: Tai Hang, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong | Best vantage point: Wun Sha Street

Transportation: MTR Tin Hau Station Exit A1, cross King’s Road and turn right. Walk straight to the junction of Causeway Road and Tung Lo Wan Road on the left to enter Tung Lo Wan Road which leads to the Tai Hang area.