HAU WONG FESTIVAL

Hau Wong festival is still celebrated in Kowloon City and on Lantau island (Tai O and Tung Chung).

The Hau Wong festival in Tai O is one of the few at which there is enough space to see everything without difficulty.

Shed theatre is usually made of bamboo, wood and palm leaves.

Temporary open-air bamboo complexes are erected at the outskirt of Tai O village.

Tai O is located in northwestern coast edge of Lantau Island. It is a Chinese stilt-house community. The village is home to the Tanka people, a community of fisherfolk.

Each year Tai O residents celebrate the birth of Hau Wong. A temporary bridge is build between the temple and the opera.

The temporary bridge has double purpose, i.e. a bridge for the Hau Wong god to cross the river and see the Chinese opera, a bridge for Tai O residents to cross easily the river. The nearest bridge is one kilometer away.

Hau Wong deity's altar is set up with a clear view on the Chinese opera stage.

Tai O residents can enjoy the performance of Chinese Opera in this lively celebration.

Chinese Opera is a traditional part of yearly celebration in Yeung Hau Temple.

Hau Wong festival lasts three days. At evening time, when Chinese opera performance is over, Tai O residents go back home either by walking or by taking a small boat.

The temporary bridge is build for the god to cross the river and see opera.

Offerings to Hau Wong deity are done in the morning. Fishing boats are given as Tai O is still an important fishing community.

Offerings to Hau Wong deity are done in the morning. Traditional roasted porks are given.

Yeung Hau temple honours Hau Wong, a local court official from the late Sung dynasty in the 1270s.

Tai O residents come by groups and immortalize the event by a group picture.

Altars for gods are usually found on backstages at most Chinese Opera theatres. Before performing, troupe members would make incense offerings to the gods and pray for their blessings.

Make-up is a special art in Chinese operas where it distinguishes different roles and reveals their dispositions and moral aspects.

In the Cantonese opera troupe, there is a few stars. Each star has his own room that can be temporary closed with curtains. Inside a local helper assists for the clothes changing and also iron the costumes.

Facing expressions such as sadness, joy are very important in Chinese Opera performances.

A distinct feature of Chinese opera is the makeup, movements, props and colorful costumes.

At low tide, the stilted houses seem to be perched unstably above the water.

Shed theatre is usually made of bamboo, wood and palm leaves.

Residents of other villages from Lantau island arrive by boat to listen and enjoy the Chinese opera.

Candle last three days during the Hau Wong birthday festival.

Yeung Hau Temple in Tai O was built in 1699. The temple is a Grade I historic building.

Click to see more pictures