Roar of the mythical qilin brings village back to life

Tucked away on an isolated part of Lantau Island, Tai Long is a picturesque little Hakkanese village with a population of five.

But whenever there is a traditional festival a swarm of people return to Tai Long, their ancestral village, to celebrate. The biggest celebration of all is Chinese New Year, during which Tai Long swells with over a hundred people returning to feast, set off firecrackers, hold midnight ceremonies, and catch up with friends and family they haven't seen for a whole year. 

Tai Long's village chief Kenny Cheung and his son Ryan tell us how at the center of the frenzy of celebrations is the qilin dance, a Hakka tradition that welcomes good health and prosperity for the coming year. In the video above, you will see the villagers bring the mythical beast qilin to life with loud percussion music and powerful, jerky movements as they dance from house to house.

Getting there

Tai Long village is inaccessible by vehicle. To get there, hire a boat from Cheung Chau. The ride should take about 15 minutes.