One of the biggest Hong Kong-specific cultural celebrations, the Cheung Chau Bun Festival, began recently with the Climbing Carnival on May 5. The festivities will continue until May 16 this year, and will culminate with the highly anticipated Piu Sik Parade and Bun Scrambling Final.
The Piu Sik Parade, also called the parades of deities, will begin at 2pm on May 15 at the Pak Tai Temple on the island of Cheung Chau. The parade, which runs all through the island and ends at the temple, is symbolic of the Taoist god Pak Tai touring the village. The highlights are the lion dance performances and the ‘Children’s Float’, in which two local costumed children are held aloft during the procession.
The Bun Scrambling Final will take place at the soccer pitch of the Pak Tai Temple Playground. During the event, 12 male and female contestants climb a tower to pick buns, each of which is awarded points based on how high up on the tower they are placed. The competition will begin at 11:30pm on May 15 and end at 12:45am on May 16. Trophies will be awarded to the champion, first runner-up and second runner-up in the men’s division, and the champion in the women’s category. In addition, the ‘Full Pockets of Lucky Buns’ award will go to the participant who gets the most buns.
Entry to watch the competition is free and spectators can line up to collect their tickets from Pak She First Lane, next to Cheung Chau Fire Station, and along Ping Chong Road, starting at 10pm on May 15. There are only 1,650 tickets available, which will be given out on a first-come-first-served basis. Once the spectators enter the soccer pitch, they will be directed to one of four zones from where they can watch the final.
The Transport Department will make arrangements for an extra ferry sailing from Cheung Chau to Central Pier No. 5. There will be special bus routes from Central Pier No. 5 to Mong Kok, and other overnight buses will be diverted to the pier. For more information on the transport arrangements, visit the government website.
For more information about this year’s Cheung Chau Bun Festival, click here.
Image credits: Hong Kong Tourism Board
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