MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL 2023

Among the many traditional Chinese festivals celebrated in Hong Kong, the Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most colourful. For centuries, the Mid-Autumn Festival has been one of the most important Chinese festivals, a time when families get together to celebrate the abundance of a good harvest and to gaze at the full moon. Children play with lanterns of different shapes and colours adding a delightful ambience to the festivities. Traditionally, the festival is a three-day event, with people welcoming the full moon on the 14th day of the eighth moon and bidding farewell to the celestial orb on the 16th day. The 15th day is often marked by a family day at home and in recent years it has become customary to take young children to the nearest park after dinner and settle down on the ground to light small candles and nibble moon cakes.

Moon cakes are a traditional and indispensable part of the Mid-Autumn festivities and are available from bakeries, supermarkets and some restaurants from about the end of August. Friends and relatives give one another moon cakes as gifts to convey blessings and good fortune. Moon cakes date back to the Yuan dynasty when Han Chinese rebels passed secret messages to one another hidden in the cakes to prevent their plans for insurrection being discovered by their Mongolian rulers.

The celebrations also include colourful Chinese lanterns. Shops all over town sell coloured Chinese paper lanterns usually in the shape of animals, but more recently, in the shape of space ships and cartoon characters etc. There are also large thematic lantern displays in different areas of Hong Kong.

LANTERN CARNIVALS;

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will hold the 2023 Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnivals from 23rd September to 2nd October. Various sets of mid-autumn lantern decorations will be displayed at three venues, namely

VICTORIA PARK, Causeway Bay (Urban Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival)

SHA TIN PARK (New Territories East Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival)

TUEN MUN PARK (New Territories West Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival)

The decorations at the above venues will be lit up from 6.30pm to 11pm every evening and will be extended to midnight on the mid-autumn day, 29th September.

Each of the carnivals will feature a YOUTH NIGHT with performances from young local artists and musicians and a GALA NIGHT with music and dance shows and demonstrations.

Performances of carnival events are in Cantonese and Putonghua

Admission to the lantern carnivals is free. For details of dates and programmes of Youth and Gala nights see;

https://www.cpo.gov.hk/category/territory-wide-events-and-carnivals/mid-autumn-lantern-carnivals/

Large-scale lantern set on Cantonese opera and in the shape of a floral board found in bamboo shed theatres at Victoria Park. The government later announced that the 2023 lantern carnival in Victoria Park was attended by about 200,000 visitors

Meanwhile, the lighting installation "The Moon Machine" is on display at HONG KONG CULTURAL CENTRE from 15th September until 8th October. The display is illuminated from 6-30pm to 11pm, extended to midnight on 29th September.

The installation is designed and produced by local team One Bite Design Studio to create lighting effects through visual and sensory technology. The colours of the installation will change in response to the size of the crowd in its vicinity


SPECIAL TRANSPORT AND TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS –

MTR will run an overnight service on 29th September until commencement of normal service on 30th September on all lines except Airport Express, Disneyland Resort Line and journeys to and from Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau stations on East Rail Line.

For further details of special transport and traffic arrangements see;

https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202309/27/P2023092700533.htm

and for various road closures, traffic diversions and parking restrictions see;

https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202309/27/P2023092700622.htm

 

FIRE DRAGON DANCE PERFORMANCES;

TAI HANG FIRE DRAGON DANCE 2023

Coinciding with the Mid-Autumn Festival is the unique Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance - a spectacular ritual that is considered one of the most extraordinary events during this Festival. In 2011, the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance was inscribed on the third national list of ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’ by the Ministry of Culture in China.

The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance has been performed for more than 100 years. Tai Hang, located in Causeway Bay, was originally a Hakka village. Legend has it that a plague broke out there in 1880s and to ward off the disease, the villagers planted joss sticks in a dragon made of grass. On the evenings of the 14th, 15th and 16th of the eighth lunar month, the villagers paraded the fire dragon through the village while letting off firecrackers. The plague ended soon after the event. From then on, the villagers have performed a three-day fire dragon dance every year to bless themselves. The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance was inscribed onto the third national list of intangible cultural heritage by the Chinese Ministry of Culture in 2011. In recent years the dragon has been supported by nearly 300 performers with the fire dragon measuring as long as 67 metres. Its head alone weighs 48kg. Its body is divided into 32 segments and uses up a total of 72,000 incense sticks during the three-day* performance. After the performance, the dragon is delivered to the sea to symbolise the dragon returning to the sky after it has dispelled the plague in the village.

The Dance is usually held over three days and nights, although in 2017 the event was extended to a fourth night to allow more visitors to experience the tradition.

The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance takes place along Tung Lo Wan Road, Lin Ka Fung Temple and surrounding streets of Tai Hang on;

28th & 29th September, 8-15pm to 10-30pm
30th September, 8-15pm to 10pm

* on 29th September the route of the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance is extended to Soccer Pitches 4 and 5 in Victoria Park from 10-45pm to 11-30pm to allow visitors to enjoy the dance and the Lantern Carnival and other Mid-Autumn celebratory activities in the park.

Admission is free.

GETTING TO TAI HANG: MTR to Tin Hau then take Exit A1

To facilitate the holding of the Fire Dragon Dance in Tai Hang, there will be road closures and traffic diversions in Tai Hang from 6pm to 11pm daily from 28th to 30th September. Parking spaces in the area will be temporarily closed. Full details will be announced on the Transport Department website at a later date.  

Website;

https://www.taihangfiredragon.hk/home.html

The government later announced that the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance was attended by about 48,000 spectators in 2023.

 

POK FU LAM FIRE DRAGON DANCE 2023

The Pok Fu Lam Fire Dragon Dance takes place along a route from Pok Fu Lam Village to Waterfall Bay near Aberdeen on;
28th & 29th September 2023, from 6-30pm to 11-45pm. The parade pauses at every shrine along the route to perform rituals to pray for prosperity for the coming year and ends at Waterfall Bay to symbolise the return of the dragon to the sea. 

Admission is free

Pok Fu Lam Village is one of 67 global cultural heritage sites included in the World Monuments Fund’s World Monument Watch and the first site in Hong Kong to be included in the watch, which is published every two years. The New York-based fund considers the modest appearance of the village belies its historical importance. The settlement perched on a hillside to the west of Hong Kong Island, is characterized by narrow lanes and alleys twisting through the village, around small traditional buildings and newer structures. The village includes the remnants of the original Dairy Farm building, set up in Pok Fu Lam in 1886, to provide Hong Kong with fresh milk. Stringent squatter control policies make it hard for villagers to repair their dwellings, as they are required to use materials that were registered at the time of the last occupancy survey, which was conducted in the 1980s.

Best viewing point is the entrance to Pok Fu Lam Village


GETTING TO POK FU LAM VILLAGE -  Pok Fu Lam is not served by MTR. Several Citybus bus routes provide frequent services to the Pok Fu Lam Village bus stop on Pok Fu Lam Road, including 91 (from Central Ferry Piers), 40 (from Exhibition Centre MTR Station), 30X (from Central Exchange Square), 37A (circular routes from Chi Fu Fa Yuen via Central/Admiralty), 71 (circular route from Wong Chuk Hang via Central) and 973 (from Tsim Sha Tsui).


MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL 2022

Scale of activities reduced owing to COVID-19 pandemic

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will hold the 2022 Mid-Autumn Lantern Displays from 7th to 12th September to enhance the festive atmosphere and celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). Various sets of mid-autumn lantern decorations will be displayed at three venues, namely Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, Tung Chung Man Tung Road Park and Tai Po Waterfront Park. Meanwhile, the lighting installation named "Hugs without Distance" is on display at Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza until 25th September.

The lit-up time of the decorations at the above venues will be from 6.30pm to 11pm every evening and it will be extended to midnight on the mid-autumn day (10th September). In view of the COVID-19 situation there will be no performances or fringe activities. The Mid-Autumn Lantern Displays are under the exclusive sponsorship of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), and are among the many initiatives supported by the HKJC's approved donation of HK$630 million to the Government of the HKSAR to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR. The illuminated lantern installation "Moon Story" at Victoria Park is the highlight of the displays. The installation has been created, designed and co-ordinated by a local team from Ida Sze's Ida&Billy Architects and it was produced by the China Performing Arts Agency in collaboration with Zigong Haitian Culture Co. Ltd, with the support of the Department of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The work fuses the traditional craftsmanship of Sichuan's Zigong lanterns and modern art to tell the ancient story of the moon festival, enhancing the cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and Sichuan. "Moon Story" consists of three spherical lanterns, ranging from 3 metres to 4.5m tall, brought together with the iconic appearance of a full moon on a hilltop and a hopping rabbit. With lighting and colour effects, the display depicts the heart-warming scene of the rabbit with the moon. The "Moon Story" illuminated lantern installation will be on display until 25th September.

Other colourful lantern decorations to be displayed at Victoria Park include a 7m-high lantern, entitled "Happy Duo under the Full Moon", crafted by local paper craft master Hui Ka-hung and featuring a Chinese vessel with Leisure and Cultural Services Department mascots Enggie Pup and Artti Kitty on board. Also enhancing the celebratory atmosphere will be lanterns made by primary and secondary students, a revolving lantern featuring horses and the moon, and lanterns about childhood memories and the 12 zodiac signs. The lantern decorations at Tung Chung Man Tung Road Park, with a theme of "Floral Wishes in Cheery Pitches", will offer visitors blissful scenes with vast swaths of flowers and five groups of colourful lanterns featuring birds, flowers and a baby panda collection. The lantern decorations in Tai Po Waterfront Park with themes of "Round" and "Union" at attractive spots such as the pond, the lawn and the Spiral Lookout Tower will include a large-scale revolving lantern, lanterns featuring wishing paper cranes, paper boats and sky lanterns, symbolising reunions and togetherness among family and friends. In addition, the illuminated art installation "Hugs without Distance" is on display at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza. It was created by local artist Ken Lo and is based on the concept of "more hugs". Two rabbit installations have been set up at the pools, with the rabbits facing each other and surrounded by heart-shaped light boxes with illumination effects.

7-metre-high lantern on display at Victoria Park entitled "Happy Duo under the Full Moon", crafted by local paper craft master Hui Ka-hung and featuring a Chinese vessel with mascots Enggie Pup and Artti Kitty on board

Visitors are required to take appropriate precautionary measures during their visits to the lantern displays, wear their own masks (including when taking photos), be subject to temperature checks before admission and maintain social distancing to safeguard public health. Admission to the lantern displays at the Victoria Park soccer pitches will start at dusk. In order to comply with the requirements stipulated in the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) and relevant requirements of administrative instructions, visitors are required to scan the "LeaveHomeSafe" venue QR code with their mobile phones/other mobile devices before being allowed to enter the Victoria Park soccer pitches for necessary contact tracing if a confirmed case is found. In accordance with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Vaccine Pass) Regulation (Cap. 599L) and relevant requirements of administrative instructions, all persons entering the Victoria Park soccer pitches must comply with the relevant requirement of the Vaccine Pass. According to the latest requirement on the Vaccine Pass announced by the Government, all persons with their Vaccine Pass QR codes displayed in red or amber are not allowed to enter the soccer pitches.

Crowd control measures will also be implemented at the venue and admission will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Admission may be suspended and broadcasts will be made taking into account the actual situation. Visitors are urged to follow the instructions of the staff and the police officers on-site. 

To avoid overcrowding on the mid-autumn day the public are urged to schedule their visits for other dates of the display period. For further information regarding the 2022 Mid-Autumn Lantern Displays see;

https://www.cpo.gov.hk/event/2022-mid-autumn-lantern-displays/

In addition to the Lantern Displays organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the Drainage Services Department (DSD) is holding a Mid-Autumn Lighting Festival themed "Beauty of the Moon" and "River Revitalisation" at Jordan Valley Channel and Kai Tak River from 5th to 18th September to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival and the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The Jordan Valley Channel was revitalised with the concept of rivers in the city under the Revitalisation Works of Jordan Valley Nullah, incorporating design elements such as enhancing biodiversity, greening the channel, increasing public open space, promoting a water-friendly culture and more. The Revitalisation of Tsui Ping River Project, which is under construction, also integrates landscaping and ecological elements to create a green river corridor in the area to beautify the community.

The lighting festival features giant moon lanterns at the Jordan Valley Channel and Kai Tak River as well as bird-shaped lanterns along the river banks to create a festive atmosphere and show the biodiversity element of river revitalisation. An arch walkway at the Jordan Valley Channel is also decorated with lighting and gingko leaves.

 
Giant moon lantern displayed at Jordan Valley Channel

For further details see;

https://www.dsd.gov.hk/EN/What_s_New/What_s_New/news30812.html

SPECIAL TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT ARRANGEMENTS;

The Transport Department has announced that special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented on the Mid-Autumn Festival and the following day (10th and 11th September) as follows:

Special traffic arrangements;

Road closure and traffic diversion arrangements will be implemented on Hong Kong Island (including Repulse Bay, Shek O and Stanley) and in the New Territories (including Tuen Mun, Tsuen Wan and Ma On Shan). The Police may adjust the implementation of traffic arrangements, subject to the prevailing traffic and crowd conditions in the areas.

Special public transport arrangements;

Public transport services will be adjusted as follows:

(i) All MTR lines will maintain normal service hours. Train frequencies of the Island Line, the Tsuen Wan Line and the Kwun Tong Line will be enhanced from 8pm to 11.30pm on 10th September to cope with passenger demand;

(ii) Tram services will be strengthened subject to passenger demand;

(iii) Franchised bus companies will arrange for some routes to extend service hours, or adjust headway/departure times, and provide special services, while some bus routes will be diverted and have temporary changes to bus stop locations in connection with the road closure and traffic diversion arrangements. The bus routes involved are as follows:

New World First Bus route Nos. 2, 9, H1S (special service), X9 and X15

Kowloon Motor Bus route Nos. 43P, 49P, 52X, 75K, 91, 92, 270S, 272S and 274X;

Cross-harbour bus service route Nos. 102, 106, 307 and 680X;

(iv) Green minibus route Nos. 26, 74 and CX1, which serve Kowloon Station and the West Kowloon Cultural District, will extend service hours on the night of 10th September

(v) Sun Ferry and Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry will strengthen their ferry services subject to passenger demand.

Details of the special traffic and transport arrangements are available on the Transport Department's website;

https://www.td.gov.hk/en/traffic_notices/index_id_67890.html

and its mobile application "HKeMobility".

Passengers may also refer to the passenger notices displayed by the relevant public transport operators. The franchised bus companies concerned will also upload the details of the temporary service adjustments to their websites and mobile applications for passengers' information.

Members of the public are advised to make use of public transport services to avoid traffic congestion and unnecessary delays. The TD and the Police will closely monitor the traffic situation and implement appropriate measures when necessary. The public should pay attention to the latest traffic news as announced on radio and television or disseminated through "HKeMobility".

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MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL 2021

Scale of activities reduced owing to Covid-19 pandemic 

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will display mid-autumn lantern decorations at three venues, Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, Sha Tin Park and Tin Shui Wai Park, from 17th to 22nd September 2021. In addition, a lighting installation "The Other Side of the Moon" has been set up at Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza and will be displayed until 3rd October.

The lit-up time of decorations at the venues will be from 6-30pm to 11pm every evening and will be extended to midnight on the mid-autumn day, 21st September. In view of the latest situation of COVID-19, there will be no performances or fringe activities.

The six soccer pitches of Victoria Park will be decorated with colourful lantern decorations which include a 6-metre-high merry-go-round lantern crafted by local paper craft master Hui Ka-hung, lanterns made by primary and secondary students, and lantern decorations featuring vibrant flamingos, a happy elephant family, lovely birds and twin rabbits.



Merry-go-round lantern crafted by local paper craft master Hui Ka-hung at Victoria Park

The lantern decorations at Sha Tin Park will feature creatures of the underwater world such as clownfish, dolphins, turtles and jellyfish. A 5m-high phoenix lantern decoration will light up Tin Shui Wai Park together with displays featuring rabbits, ladybugs, meerkats and robots.

Created by local artist Dylan Kwok, the energy-efficient lighting art installation "The Other Side of the Moon" has been set up at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza. The installation features six giant inflatable rabbit phubbers playing with their tablets, leading the public to reflect on the impact of the Internet and communications between people nowadays, and uses projection, reflection and light absorption and emission techniques to bring out special lighting effects.

 

"The Other Side of the Moon", created by local artist Dylan Kwok, the installation features six giant inflatable rabbit phubbers playing with their tablets, leading the public to reflect on the impact of the Internet and communications between people nowadays

Visitors are required to take appropriate precautionary measures, wear their own masks (including when taking photos), maintain social distancing and avoid gathering in groups of more than four people at any time to safeguard public health.

Admission to the Victoria Park soccer pitches will start at dusk and visitors are required to scan the "LeaveHomeSafe" QR code or register their personal information, and will be subject to temperature checks before admission. Crowd control measures will be implemented and admission will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Admission may be suspended and broadcasts will be made taking into account the actual situation. Visitors are urged to follow the instructions of the staff and the police officers on-site.

To avoid overcrowding on the mid-autumn day, the LCSD urges the public to schedule their visits for other dates of the display period.

For further information see;

https://www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/cpo/territoryevents/midautumnlantern/midAutumn2021.html

MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL 2020

Cancelled owing to Covid-19 pandemic

HONG KONG MID AUTUMN- FESTIVAL 2019 


Among the many traditional Chinese festivals celebrated in Hong Kong, the Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most colourful. For centuries, the Mid-Autumn Festival has been one of the most important Chinese festivals, a time when families get together to celebrate the abundance of a good harvest and to gaze at the full moon. Children play with lanterns of different shapes and colours adding a delightful ambience to the festivities. Traditionally, the festival is a three-day event, with people welcoming the full moon on the 14th day of the eighth moon and bidding farewell to the celestial orb on the 16th day. The 15th day is often marked by a family day at home and in recent years it has become customary to take young children to the nearest park after dinner and settle down on the ground to light small candles and nibble moon cakes.

Moon cakes are a traditional and indispensable part of the Mid-Autumn festivities and are available from bakeries, supermarkets and some restaurants from about the end of August. Friends and relatives give one another moon cakes as gifts to convey blessings and good fortune. Moon cakes date back to the Yuan dynasty when Han Chinese rebels passed secret messages to one another hidden in the cakes to prevent their plans for insurrection being discovered by their Mongolian rulers.

The celebrations also include colourful Chinese lanterns. Shops all over town sell coloured Chinese paper lanterns usually in the shape of animals, but more recently, in the shape of space ships and cartoon characters etc. There are also large thematic lantern displays in different areas of Hong Kong.

Each year the Urban Lantern Carnival is held at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay. Lantern Carnivals are also held in the New Territories East and New Territories West at different venues each year. In 2018 the NT East Carnival was held at Tai Po Waterfront Park and the NT West Carnival at Tuen Mun Park. In 2019 the NT East Carnival is being held at Sha Tin Park and the NT West Carnival at Tsuen Wan Park. At each venue events include a range of stage performances as well as crafts workshops and demonstrations and lighting installations. The Ningxia Arts Troupe, supported by the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, will perform spectacular folk songs, dances and acrobatic shows in all three carnivals. In addition, folk craft demonstrations by Guangdong and local masters, including Guangdong paper-cutting, plaster moulding, unicorn paper crafting and Guangcai (Guangzhou famille rose porcelain) craftsmanship, will also be featured. The carnivals are each decorated with colourful lanterns. Another feature of the Victoria Park carnival is an exhibition on traditional paper crafting. Organised by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Office of the LCSD and inspired by the lucky bat decoration used in fa pau (paper floral tributes), a local craftsman handmade some 90 colourful bat-shaped lanterns to create the image of auspicious bats dancing in the sky. A thematic lantern display is also held each year outside Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui for about two weeks around the time of the Mid-Autumn Festival. For details of the 2019 carnivals see below.

The Ningxia Arts Troupe performed in all three carnivals at Victoria Park, Tuen Mun Park  and Tai Po Waterfront Park in 2018

The main Lantern Carnival (Urban Lantern Carnival) and other Mid-Autumn events are held at VICTORIA PARK in Causeway Bay. Further details to be announced nearer the date of the festival.

Date - 13th September 2019 

Time - 8pm to 11pm

Programme : Spectacular Chinese ethnic songs, dances and acrobatics, a choral performance, children's theatre performances, a fire dragon dance parade, a lantern riddle quiz, astronomy talks and documentary screenings, a star-gazing activity, a creative market and demonstrations of Guangdong and Hong Kong folk crafts and the conclusion of the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance Parade .

Victoria Park will also feature a "Wishing Pavilion" lantern and light show curated by renowned local artist SIU Kwok Kin Stanley with a fire lantern as its centrepiece. The lantern and light show operates from 6-30pm to midnight on 13th September and 6-30pm to 11pm from 14th to 27th September.

For full programme details see;

https://www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/cpo/territoryevents/midautumnlantern/midAutumn2019.html

Lanterns are on display from 11th September to 15th September from 6-30pm to 11-30pm (extended to midnight on 13th September)

Youth Night takes place on 12th September from 7-30pm to 9-30pm

The interactive lighting installation "Time Expression" at the 2018 Urban Carnival featured a space tunnel and a giant water vortex to evoke thoughts of time travel among visitors

Lantern displays at a previous urban festival in Victoria Park depicted well-known Hong Kong landmarks including the ex Kowloon-Canton Railway Clock Tower

 

A Fire Dragon Dance Parade will feature in the Urban Lantern Carnival in Victoria Park

Folk craft demonstrations by Guangdong and local masters, including Guangdong inside painting of snuff bottles, birdcage production and Hakka embroidered band knitting craftsmanship, will be featured. Photo shows a Chaozhou embroidery demonstration.


GETTING TO VICTORIA PARK: MTR to Causeway Bay Station, then take Exit E, turn left and follow Great George Street to the park, which is located opposite the end of the street, or MTR to Tin Hau Station, then take Exit A2, turn left and continue ahead until reaching the park. 



FIRE DRAGON DANCE PERFORMANCES;

TAI HANG FIRE DRAGON DANCE

Coinciding with the Mid-Autumn Festival is the unique Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance - a spectacular ritual that is considered one of the most extraordinary events during this Festival. In 2011, the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance was inscribed on the third national list of ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’ by the Ministry of Culture in China.

Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance

The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance has been performed for more than 100 years. Tai Hang, located in Causeway Bay, was originally a Hakka village. Legend has it that a plague broke out there in 1880s and to ward off the disease, the villagers planted joss sticks in a dragon made of grass. On the evenings of the 14th, 15th and 16th of the eighth lunar month, the villagers paraded the fire dragon through the village while letting off firecrackers. The plague ended soon after the event. From then on, the villagers have performed a three-day fire dragon dance every year to bless themselves. The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance was inscribed onto the third national list of intangible cultural heritage by the Chinese Ministry of Culture in 2011. In 2017, supported by nearly 300 performers, the fire dragon measured as long as 67 metres. Its head alone weighs 48kg. Its body is divided into 32 segments and uses up a total of 72,000 incense sticks during the three-day* performance. After the performance, the dragon is delivered to the sea to symbolise the dragon returning to the sky after it has dispelled the plague in the village.

* the Dance is usually held over three days and nights. However, in 2017 the event was extended to a fourth night to allow more visitors to experience the tradition.

The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance takes place along Tung Lo Wan Road, Lin Ka Fung Temple and surrounding streets of Tai Hang on;

12th & 13th* September 2019, 8-15pm to 10-30pm
14th September 2019, 8-15pm to 10pm

* on 13th September the route of the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance is extended to Soccer Pitches 4 and 5 in Victoria Park from 10-45pm to 11-30pm to allow visitors to enjoy the dance and the Lantern Carnival and other Mid-Autumn celebratory activities in the park.

Website;

http://www.taihangfiredragon.hk/ 

GETTING TO TAI HANG: MTR to Tin Hau then take Exit A1

To facilitate the holding of the Fire Dragon Dance in Tai Hang, there will be road closures and traffic diversions in Tai Hang from 6pm to 11pm daily from 12th to 14th September. Parking spaces in the area will be temporarily closed. Full details will be announced on the Transport Department website at a later date.


POK FU LAM FIRE DRAGON DANCE

The Pok Fu Lam Fire Dragon Dance takes place from Pok Fu Lam Village to Waterfall Bay near Aberdeen on;

13th September 2019, from 7pm to 11pm

The parade pauses at every shrine along the route to perform rituals to pray for prosperity for the coming year and ends at Waterfall Bay to symbolise the return of the dragon to the sea. 

Admission is free

Pok Fu Lam Village is one of 67 global cultural heritage sites included in the World Monuments Fund’s World Monument Watch and the first site in Hong Kong to be included in the watch, which is published every two years. The New York-based fund considers the modest appearance of the village belies its historical importance. The settlement perched on a hillside to the west of Hong Kong Island, is characterized by narrow lanes and alleys twisting through the village, around small traditional buildings and newer structures. The village includes the remnants of the original Dairy Farm building, set up in Pok Fu Lam in 1886, to provide Hong Kong with fresh milk. Stringent squatter control policies make it hard for villagers to repair their dwellings, as they are required to use materials that were registered at the time of the last occupancy survey, which was conducted in the 1980s.

Best viewing point is the entrance to Pok Fu Lam Village


GETTING TO POK FU LAM VILLAGE: Pok Fu Lam is not served by MTR. Several Citybus bus routes provide frequent services to the Pok Fu Lam Village bus stop on Pok Fu Lam Road, including 91 (from Central Ferry Piers), 40M (from Admiralty via Central), 30X (from Central Exchange Square), 37A & 37B (circular routes from Chi Fu Fa Yuen via Central/Admiralty), 71 (circular route from Wong Chuk Hang via Central) and 973 (from Tsim Sha Tsui).




OTHER LANTERN DISPLAYS AND CARNIVALS;

MID-AUTUMN THEMATIC LANTERN DISPLAY 2019: MAGIC BEHIND THE MOON 

Location - Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza, Tsim Sha Tsui

Date - 30th August  to 22nd September 2019 

Time - 6-30pm to 11pm (extended to midnight on 13th September)

An interactive lighting installation entitled "To the Moon" on display at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza at the 2018 Mid-Autumn Festival. The installation featured two miniature illuminated trains that depart from the former Kowloon-Canton Railway terminus with 10 moons floating up and down with music along the tracks. More than 300 boxes, each containing a moon story, were placed at both sides. These moon stories were created by local families and each tells a different family tale

 

The 2018 installation featured two miniature illuminated trains that depart from the former Kowloon-Canton Railway terminus with 10 moons floating up and down with music along the tracks

NEW TERRITORIES EAST MID-AUTUMN LANTERN CARNIVAL 2019;

Location - SHA TIN PARK 

Date - 14th September 2019*

Time - 7-30pm to 10pm

Programme: Spectacular Chinese ethnic songs, dances and acrobatics, a Chinese orchestral performance, crosstalk, a band performance, a magic performance with Noh theatre, a harmonica ensemble performance and demonstrations of Guangdong and Hong Kong folk crafts. For full programme details see; 

https://www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/eo/common/images/2018/27/nte.jpg
.
*Lanterns are illuminated from 7th to 15th September from 6-30pm to 11pm (extended to midnight on 13th September)

Youth Night takes place on 15th September from 7-30pm to 9-30pm

 

A lantern riddles corner at the New Territories East Mid-Autumn Carnival in 2016



NEW TERRITORIES WEST MID-AUTUMN LANTERN CARNIVAL 2019;

Location - TSUEN WAN PARK 

Date - 15th September 2019*

Time - 7-30pm to 10pm

Programme: Spectacular Chinese ethnic songs, dances and acrobatics, a luminous dragon dance performance, a choral and orchestral concert, a Chinese instrumental concert, pop and street music performances, rhythmic gymnastics, dance and rope skipping performances, Nepalese dance and band performance, and demonstrations of Guangdong and Hong Kong folk crafts. For full programme details see;

https://www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/eo/common/images/2018/27/ntw.jpg
 

*Lanterns are illuminated from 11th September to 15th September from 6-30pm to 11pm (extended to midnight on 13th September)

Youth Night takes place on 14th September from 7-30pm to 9-30pm

SPECIAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT ARRANGEMENTS DURING MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL

The Transport Department (TD) is implementing special traffic and transport arrangements on Hong Kong Island and in the New Territories to facilitate Mid-Autumn Festival activities and the Fire Dragon Dance in Tai Hang.

To facilitate the holding of the Fire Dragon Dance in Tai Hang on Hong Kong Island, there will be road closures and traffic diversions in Tai Hang from 6pm to 11.59pm daily from 12th to 14th September. Parking spaces and taxi stands in the area will be suspended.

Road closure arrangements will also be implemented in various parts of Hong Kong Island (including the Peak, Repulse Bay, Shek O, Stanley, Pok Fu Lam and Aberdeen) and the New Territories (including Tuen Mun, Tsuen Wan and Ma On Shan). Part-time pedestrian schemes and learner driver prohibited zones will be set up. Car parks, roadside parking spaces, taxi stands and public light bus stands will be suspended. The Police may adjust the implementation of road closures and traffic diversions, subject to the prevailing traffic and crowd conditions in the areas.

For public transport services, there will be extension of operating hours, route diversions and strengthening of services. Details are as follows:

* MTR Island Line, South Island Line, Tsuen Wan Line, Kwun Tong Line, Tseung Kwan O Line, Tung Chung Line, East Rail Line (between Hung Hom and Sheung Shui only), West Rail Line and Ma On Shan Line will operate overnight on September 13th; - UPDATE - following a risk assessment MTR has announced that normal service operating hours will apply on 13th/14th September (service will not operate 24 hours). On 13th September service frequency from 3pm will be increased to end of service on some lines. For details see;

https://www.mtr.com.hk/archive/corporate/en/press_release/PR-19-054-E.pdf

* Some Light Rail routes in the Tuen Mun, Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai areas will operate overnight on September 13th;

* The tram service on September 13th will be extended to 3am of the following day. The service from September 12th to 14th will be strengthened subject to passenger demand;

* Extensions of operating hours, provision of special services, route diversions and suspension/relocation of bus stops will be exercised by bus companies on some routes;

* Some green minibus services will be extended and some routes will be diverted; and

* Ferry services operated by Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry (HKKF) will be enhanced according to passenger demand.

Members of the public are advised to make use of public transport services so as to avoid traffic congestion and unnecessary delays. Motorists should avoid driving to the affected areas. In case of traffic congestion, they should drive with patience and follow the instructions of the Police on-site.

The TD and the Police will closely monitor the traffic situation and implement appropriate measures as necessary. Motorists and the public are advised to pay attention to the latest traffic news on radio and television.

POSTAL SERVICES

There will be no mail collection and no mail delivery on 14th September 2019, the public holiday for the day following Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival. All post offices will be closed on that day except the General Post Office at Connaught Place, Central and the Airport Post Office. The business hours of the two offices will be from 9am to 5pm and 8am to 5pm respectively. General postal services will be provided. Details of services available will be advertised at the respective post offices.