Pok Fu Lam Village Fire Dragon Dance plans for future amid Wah Fu Estate redevelopment

As the Pok Fu Lam Village fire dragon dance illuminated the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Housing Department is working to ensure this century-old tradition thrives despite the upcoming redevelopment of Wah Fu Estate, set to begin in 2027.

Each Mid-Autumn Festival, the Pok Fu Lam Village fire dragon team parades through Wah Fu Estate, winding along Wah Fu Road and pausing at the banyan tree near the estate’s shopping mall to add incense sticks. 

With the estate slated for phased demolition and rebuilding starting in 2027, the iconic dragon’s route faces disruption. 

To safeguard this cherished Hong Kong intangible cultural heritage, the Housing Department joined this year’s fire dragon dance to study its spatial and architectural needs. 

Discussions with the Pok Fu Lam Village Fire Dragon Dance association are underway to ensure the tradition continues during construction, including plans to keep Wah Fu Road accessible for the dragon’s passage. 

Future designs for the redeveloped Wah Fu North and new Wah Fu Estate will include spaces at least 10 meters wide for key rituals like the dragon’s “emergence” and incense replenishment. 

When the redevelopment wraps up around 2040, the fire dragon will once again weave through the new estates, engaging residents before concluding at Waterfall Bay with the ceremonial “dragon returning to the sea.”