On the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the streets of Tai Hang resonate with the vibrant sounds of gongs and drums. And the intense smell of incense heralds the arrival of the century-old fire dragon as it dances for good fortune.
The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance is staged for three consecutive nights (16 to 18 September) on the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival to bring good fortune to the neighbourhood and its residents.
The 220-foot dragon is handcrafted each year by the Tai Hang Residents’ Welfare Association, a process that takes around two months. The head and tail sections are constructed of rattan, and the body of thick rope with the dragon’s body then wrapped in chamber bitter leaves.
The dragon’s body is pierced with incense sticks ahead of the consecration ceremony which takes place the day before the Mid-Autumn Festival, at the Lin Fa Kung Temple. After the dragon’s eyes are painted on, the fire dragon is alive.
This year the traditional joss sticks have been replaced with 10,000 LED
bulbs and the route extended so more people can enjoy the dance up-close.
images: HK Tourism
Hong Kong v Japan – East Asia Cup
Date: 13:30, 13 October, 2024
Venue: Hokkaido, Japan
Tickets: Free
More info: https://espn2broadcast.takemaster.org/rugby.php
The National Day Fireworks will start at 9pm on 1 October, bursting into the sky to symbolise joy and unity.
National Day Fireworks
Date: 9pm, 1 October, 2024
Venue: Victoria Harbour
Tickets: Free
Hong Kong ATP Tennis Open
Date: 29 December 2024 – 5 January 2025
Venue: Victoria Park
Tickets: tbc
Teenage swimmer Jasmine Ng Cheuk-yan won her first Paralympic medal in Paris Sunday night, becoming at 14 Hong Kong’s youngest-ever Paralympic medalist.
At the Paris La Défense Arena, Ng finished third in the SB6 100-meter breaststroke final behind British swimmer Maisie Summers-Newton, who in winning smashed the Paralympic record and China’s world record holder and silver medalist, Liu Daomin.
In taking bronze Ng broke the previous record set by legendary sprinter So Wa-wai, who was 14 years and 10 months old when he won his first Paralympic gold at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
image: Hong Kong Paralympic Committee
Happy Birthday to us!
Thirty, yes 30, years ago today, bc magazine debuted on the streets of Hong Kong.
Much has changed over the last 30 years, especially in the last couple Lan Kwai Fong and Wanchai are now unrecognisable from the vibrant social melting pots of the past.
And while you can’t fight change. It does feel a bit sad that many people today seem to care more about a ‘like’ from an invisible unknown digital stranger than engaging with the real people around them.
The melting pot of people around us is after all what makes/made Hong Kong ‘Asia’s World City.’ A place of magic where hard work and a bit of luck (or meeting the right person in a bar) anyone could achieve almost anything.
After all, I could never have imagined when asking two complete strangers in McDonalds if they wanted a job starting a magazine that it’d still be around 30 years later.
A lot of people – staff, friends, advertisers and readers have been involved over the years, thank you for your continued support and strength.
Carpe Diem!
Hong Kong Tennis Open – WTA 250
Date: 26 October – 3 November, 2024
Venue: Victoria Park
Tickets: $765, $605, $395, $305
Cyclothon
Date: 13 October 2024
Venue: West Kowloon
Tickets: $600, $350, $280
More info: registration www.discoverhongkong.com/cyclothon
New route for 2024, Tsim Sha Tsui to Tsing Yi via Cheung Tsing Tunnel, heads towards Tsing Ma Bridge, Ting Kau Bridge, Nam Wan Tunnel, Stonecutters Bridge, Eagle’s Nest Tunnel and Sha Tin Heights Tunnel before returning to West Kowloon
