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A Mid-Autumn lantern carnival at Ko Shan Road Park and Ko Shan Theatre tonight (October 5) kicked off a series of celebration throughout the territory.
Four large-scale lantern carnivals, organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department are scheduled from today until October 7 to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Carnival-goers tonight enjoyed the entertainment programmes. The Inner Mongolia University Arts Academy Arts Troupe presented spectacular Mongolian music and dance performance. The group will also perform in the carnivals at Victoria Park and Sha Tin Park.
Other programmes were children chorus, traditional stage arts show, excerpts of Cantonese opera, lantern quiz and fortune-telling.
A seven-metre spectacular lantern, together with other lantern displays added colour to the carnival.
Three more lantern carnivals will be held tomorrow (October 6) and on Saturday (October 7). Admission is free. Details are as follows:
1. Hong Kong Island Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival
October 6 (Friday), 8pm-11pm
Victoria Park
Programmes: Mongolian music and dance, traditional stage arts show and excerpts of Cantonese opera, nostalgic games, lantern quiz, fortune-telling and lantern display
2. New Territories East Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival
October 7 (Saturday), 7.30pm-10.30pm
Sha Tin Park, Sha Tin Town Hall Plaza and Podium
Programmes: Mongolian music and dance, traditional stage arts show and excerpts of Cantonese opera, nostalgic games, lantern quiz, fortune-telling and lantern display
3. New Territories West Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival
October 7 (Saturday), 7.30pm-10.30pm
Sha Tsui Road Playground, Tsuen Wan
Programmes: Chinese Instrumental Concert and Dance, Golden oldies, traditional stage arts show, excerpts of Cantonese opera, Chinese puppet show, lantern quiz, fortune-telling and lantern display
People can also enjoy the spectacular lantern displays "Radiant Homeland" at Kowloon Park until October 30; and "Chang'er Flies to the Moon" at West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade until October 8.
The display at Kowloon Park, designed in an unconventional style, depicts the stories of the strenuous Hong Kong people who transformed their homeland from a fishing village to an Asia's World City - the "Pearl of the Orient"; while the display of colourful lanterns at West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade depicts the fabulous Chinese legend of "Chang'er Flies to the Moon".
All entries including the winning designs of the 2006 Mid-Autumn Lantern Design Competition, are now on display at the Exhibition Hall, 1/F, Low Block, Hong Kong City Hall. The exhibition is open to public until October 13.
People are urged to avoid littering and wax-burning while celebrating the festival.
Ends/Thursday, October 5, 2006
Issued at HKT 20:31
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