Gongs and drums shake Hong Kong: Tin Hau Birthday Parade

#HongKongTraditionalFestivals On the 23rd day of the third lunar month, gongs and drums sounded in every district of Hong Kong, and the streets were deserted to welcome the birthday of the Queen of Heaven. This national intangible cultural heritage, which has been passed down for a hundred years, bloomed with the splendor of tradition and faith in the grand parade. The highlight is the parade of the 18 rural communities in Yuen Long. The 37 fireworks teams have continued to perform since 1963. The dragon dances, the singing of English songs and the leaping of unicorns all show the cohesion of the villages. The giant bamboo fireworks are covered with red and colorful decorations, like a flowing folk art gallery. The "Big Temple" in Saigon has been filled with incense for a thousand years. Believers touch the dragon bed to pray for blessings, and even compete to buy the "pineapple chicken" mascot. It is said that its sharp beak can peck away villains and ward off evil spirits and bring good luck to the home. Temple Street in Yau Ma Tei was filled with bustling excitement. The Tung Wah Group of Hospitals paid tribute to the Queen of Heaven with a nearly 4-meter-high fireworks ceremony. Outside the temple, calligraphy and sugar painting stalls were set off. The traditional skills and the sweet aroma of the ice cream trucks intertwined, instantly awakening the feelings of old Hong Kong. The opera stage on Po Toi Island is built on the cliff. The bamboo stage made by skilled craftsmen is in harmony with the sea and sky. The sound of Cantonese opera gongs and drums seems to echo the days of the fishing port. From the streets of Yuen Long to the cliffs of outlying islands, the parade is not only a ceremony to worship gods, but also a folk performance that transcends time and space. The blend of the old and the new, the prayers and noise carried by the incense are always the most vivid pulse of this city.