Since 2012, The Link has organised an annual Bike Dragon Dance on the third day of Chinese New Year, a one-of-a-kind event in Hong Kong. The event combines elements of traditional dragon dances with a modern bike performance to deliver New Year blessings to everyone. This year marked the third consecutive year that The Link hosted the Bike Dragon Dance, and for the first time ever, The Link participated in the Chinese New Year Night Parade organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board. By teaming up with Alan Ho, Gold Medalist of National Games of the People's Republic of China, The Link led an elite bike parade team comprising 80 university students, youths and employees. The parade team formed a Bike Dragon that stretched to over 500 feet and danced along the bustling night streets of Tsim Sha Tsui and under the neon glow of Nathan Road and Canton Road. Using the special bicycle lights, the parade team created a dazzling visual performance for the people of Hong Kong as well as tourists from all over the world. Inspiring 3,000-feet Bike Dragon Charms the Tolo Harbour on the Third Day of Chinese New Year The third Bike Dragon Dance came to a successful conclusion today (the third day of Chinese New Year) at the Pak Shek Kok Promenade at Hong Kong Science Park. George Hongchoy, Chief Executive Officer of The Link and Andy Cheung, Chief Financial Officer of The Link teamed up with cyclist Alan Ho to lead 400 professional and recreational cyclists, as well as members of the public, in forming a Bike Dragon pattern using bicycle lights. Following the lead of an eight-feet-tall custom-made LED Dragonhead, the bike dragon danced along the Tolo Harbour and charmed the city with an amazing light display. The Bike Dragon stretched 3,000 feet in length, shattering the records set in the past two years. Bike Parade Ushers in a Lucky and Healthy New Year Following the success of the last two editions, the Bike Parade not only attracted local residents, but also bike enthusiasts from around the world to participate. The event’s lively atmosphere has made it an especially popular Chinese New Year event in recent years. Over 1,000 participants took part in this year’s parade, and they were divided into two groups—the Leisure Group and Challenge Group—as they started off from Sha Kok Commercial Centre in Sha Tin. The Leisure Group travelled nearly 15 kilometres and rode past four of The Link’s shopping centres in Sha Tin, including Lek Yuen Plaza, Wo Che Plaza, Yu Chui Shopping Centre and Chung On Shopping Centre. The Challenge Group had a more challenging and longer path, travelling nearly 25 kilometres from Tolo Highway to Pak Shek Kok Promenade via four of The Link’s shopping centres in Tai Po, including Fu Shin Shopping Centre, Fu Heng Shopping Centre, Tai Yuen Commercial Centre and Tai Wo Plaza. To make the event more interesting, the New Year Bike Carnival and Performance featured a series of exciting game booths including a “luminous” photo-taking area, cartoon portrait painting and luminous face painting. In addition, the carnival also presents a host of amazing programmes, such as a series of challenging cheerleading performances and a 35-member bike music band, who came all the way from the Netherlands. The night was rounded off with a grand finale from Taiwanese dance group LED Light Fantasy, who used a patented no-limit light system in combination with traditional Chinese music to present a unique and captivating Chinese New Year dance performance. “Following the success of the past two years, the Bike Parade and Bike Dragon Dance have become Chinese New Year activities that people in Hong Kong look forward to each year,” said George Hongchoy, CEO of The Link. “This year, we shifted the locations to include bike hotspots Sha Tin and Tai Po, and participants rode through different lucky stations located at The Link’s shopping centres to bring good luck to the new year. We achieved new heights in terms of attendance this year and reached a new milestone as the Bike Dragon Dance being included as part of the Chinese New Year Night Parade in Tsim Sha Tsui, where Hong Kong residents, as well as tourists from different parts of the world, were able to view this unique spectacle.” |