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For more than a century, the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance has been one of Hong Kong’s most unique festive and cultural events. It was inscribed on the national list of intangible cultural heritage in 2011.

This year, the dance of a spectacular 220-foot-long fire dragon was performed through the streets of Tai Hang on 12-14 September, attracting many residents and tourists.

First held in 1880, the Fire Dragon Dance is believed to drive away plague that had broken out in Tai Hang village. Since then it has been customary to hold the dance every year during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

The Club’s Charities Trust has been supporting the Tai Hang Residents’ Welfare Association to organise the annual event since 2010.

The Club’s donation also enables the Conservancy Association Centre for Heritage (CACHe) to organise the Jockey Club Public Education Programme for Intangible Cultural Heritage in Hong Kong. Through workshops and tours on such topics as the history of the event and the making of a fire dragon it promotes public awareness of the tradition.

In 2018, CACHe launched “Heirs of the Fire Dragon”, which recruits and trains young people to take part in the Fire Dragon Dance alongside members of the Tai Hang community.

Since 2012, the Trust has provided funding to help preserve two other local festivals inscribed in the national list, namely the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival and the Tai O Traditional Dragon Boat Water Parade.