At the Fire Dragon Dance in Hong Kong, the first part of your body that knows the dragon is coming is your nose. The booming drumming that accompanies it through the narrow streets is a constant, so, it’s an unreliable forewarning.
When the dragon bursts into view it isn’t a brightly clothed millipede led by numerous anonymous people underneath.
Instead its form is made up entirely of incense sticks studded into a narrow pin cushion body an amazing 67m in length. Hundreds of glowing points of light form its head, and the smoke that billows upwards is sweet and heady.
There are men stationed at regular intervals along the tubular, studded body who piston the narrow creature up and down using poles to produce an undulating spectacle. The tail dips, twists and writhes as the dragon continues winding along the course in the criss-crossing grid pattern of the back streets in Tai Hang, a district in Causeway Bay.
The Fire Dragon dance coincides with the mid-autumn festival, or Moon Festival, usually held in September, when the full moon can be viewed at its largest.
Celebrating a huge full moon hanging above the panoramic vista of the colourful neon-lit skyscrapers that line Hong Kong harbour is a breathtaking combination of man-made and natural beauty.
Hong Kong is not big, but what it lacks in length and breadth, it makes up for in height.
Having a taste of Hong Kong’s heritage is as simple as starting out with a ride across the harbour in the Duk Ling, the last authentic Chinese junk in operation in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong is not big
After you’ve warmed up your neck by taking in the harbour’s 360� views, visit the neck-craning Giant Buddha on Lantau Island, the world’s tallest outdoor Buddha.
If that isn’t to your taste, the region boasts an impressive number of museums covering science, art, history, film and architecture.
There are also short daily classes organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board that cover tai chi, feng shui, jewellery appreciation, Chinese tea appreciation, Cantonese opera appreciation, as well as Sunday afternoon open-air kung fu demonstrations.
Modern Hong Kong inspires without trying too hard, it is cosmopolitan without being aloof and is a smooth introduction to Chinese culture in comparison to its neighbouring countries.
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