CRI听力:Hong Kong celebrates Mid-Autumn Festival

Every mid-autumn festival, Victoria Park is lit up in a spectrum of colors.
 
Numerous dazzling lanterns are put on display, telling the stories of ancient China, while at the same time, littering-in modern pop cultural references.

Young or old, local or visitor, everyone seems captivated by the glowing fantasy world.

"We came from Shanghai. The lantern display here is very interesting. My son is so excited. We are having a wonderful mid-autumn night in Hong Kong."

A traditional symbol of fertility, the lantern is a central element of the festival's visual presentation.

But it is not just the lanterns lighting up the festival.

Hong Kong celebrations have also included spectacular fire dragon dances.

A 67-meter fire dragon has wound its way through the streets of Tai Hang, with more than 3 hundred performers, 70 thousand incense sticks, and a host of firecrackers in tow.

"It is very interesting. It is a kind of activity that only happens in Hong Kong. You really can't see this anywhere else in the world. If possible, I try to come every year."

Tradition holds that the dragon can bring good fortune, which is why the streets in Hong Kong are always so crowded with onlookers during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Legend has it that during the 19th century, villagers in Hong Kong used the Dragon Dance as a way to try to prevent tragic events, such as pestilence and typhoons.
 
Unfortunately, this year's dances weren't enough to stop Typhoon Meranti from putting a small damper on the celebration.

While the massive storm missed Hong Kong on Thursday, its effects did whip up clouds which blocked the moon from view.

Still, that didn't stop the party, with friends and families coming together as always to eat mooncake and celebrate their time together.

And even those in Hong Kong who are less-interested in tradition still made a day of it, with many finding their way outside the hustle-and-bustle of Hong Kong's busy streets to hit the beach and enjoy the water and the pleasant temperatures.