Wishing you and your family health and happiness in the Year of the Dragon,
David
Dragons are popular symbols in Hong Kong. See how many of the following historical dragons you can recognise (scroll down for the answers):
Answers:
A 1970s matchbox label from the Dragon Bar in the Hilton Hotel.
A double dose of dragons here. The clips come from the film, Enter The Dragon. The film's star was Bruce Lee, whose Chinese stage name was 李小龍 or 'Lee Little Dragon'.
Dragon Lodge, at 32 Lugard Road, is still standing but it has been empty for many years. The photo below was taken 100 years ago in 1924, when the building was still new and in much better shape.
The Dragon Gate Theatre on Cheung Chau was later renamed to become the Golden Dragon Theatre:
Out on Castle Peak Road was the Dragon Inn:
Also on Castle Peak Road, but nearer to Tsuen Wan, is Dragon Villa:
Large teams of dragon dancers were a common sight in the processions to celebrate major royal events in Hong Kong. These two took part in the celebrations for coronations, the first for Queen Elizabeth II, and the second for her father King George VI.
A different style of dragon dancing is on show in Tai Hang each autumn, when the Fire Dragon makes its appearance:
The dragon at top left on this 1954 Christmas Card was the badge for British soldiers in Hong Kong at the time.
Dragons on display at the Tiger Balm Gardens. (This photo's notes explain the meanings associated with the dragons' different colours.)
One of the many Dragon Boats in Hong Kong. (It was taking part in a race off North Point in the 1920s - see Photo 16 in Volume 3 of my books for the full story.)
Did you ever ride The Dragon at Ocean Park?
The view from the Dragon's Back over the Shek O Country Club and Golf Course, as it looked over 90 years ago in 1929. It's still a popular viewpoint today, and the view looks much the same - though without the sailing junks moored in the bay.
And finally, conveniently displaying a 'KUNG HEI FAT CHOY' sign, is the Dragon Seed store in Central.
Comments
A double dose of dragons
in fact a triple dose because Bruce Lee was also born in Nov 1940, a year of the dragon.
Happy New Year!
Don't forget the dragon…
Don't forget the dragon holes!
2020 Dragon's Back Signpost
2017 Dragon's Back Ridge
Dragon's Back Pale Ale
Dragon Rifle
Continuing the Dragon related theme, here's an old rifle with a Hong Kong connection and a dragon engraved on the butt.
I saw it in Australia, possibly in the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, a few years ago. The display was about Australian soldiers sent to China at the time of the Boxer Rebellion. Under the title "Dragon Rifle, c.1900", the following information was provided.
“On their way to Peking, the contingents from New South Wales and Victoria were issued with Lee Metford rifles in Hong Kong. Many of the Australians engaged local craftsmen to engrave their weapons with dragon motifs”.
Glare off the display case made it difficult to get a clear photo of the engraved dragon. This is the best I could do.
,
Thank you for all the extra…
Thank you for all the extra dragons!