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The most famous fire dragon dance in Hong Kong is the one taking
place in Tai Hang area near Causeway Bay. Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance was inscribed onto the
national list of intangible cultural heritage in year 2011. The one
in Pok Fu Lam village is smaller scale but worth seeing as the site is less crowded.
Pok Fu Lam fire dragon
The Pok Fu Lam fire dragon dance is happening on the night of Mid-Autumn Festival
from 6.30pm to 10.30pm.
It is a one night event. Tai Hang fire dragon dance is a
three nights event.
Pok Fu Lam fire dragon
Local villagers believe the fire dragon dance ensures the peace, security and good
fortune of their area.
Pok Fu Lam fire dragon
Pokfulam village is a 200 years old village. Houses are really stuck together with
small alleys between them. So the police blocks one lane of the main road to allow
the dragon to wander easily.
Pok Fu Lam fire dragon
There are two fire dragons used, one long and one short. The short dragon with fluorescent
lamps is kept at the village temple for worship and displayed during Mid-Autumn Festival only.
Villagers lit firecrackers before the possession.
It helps to clear the road of ghosts.
Pok Fu Lam fire dragon
Local villagers or tourists can tuck incense sticks into the dragon body,
which is made of cereal grasses as material.
Pok Fu Lam fire dragon
The place in front of the village is really crowded and full of local photographers.
There is more space when the dragon starts to roam in nearby estates or near the local
Chinese shrine.
There is a religious ritual in front of Li Ling Shin Che Pagoda.
Pok Fu Lam fire dragon
In year 2010, the Pok Fu Lam fire dragon, was officially measured
to be over 73 meters long. It used 40 000 incense sticks. It had 36 segments and two people for each
segments.
Pok Fu Lam fire dragon
In year 2010 it was the 100th Anniversary of Fire Dragon Festival
in Pok Fu Lam Village. The original event was to get rid the area of epidemy.
The smell from the incense would kill the virus.
In the last part of the event, the villagers bring the dragon to
the beach of Waterfall Bay and sink it.
