Hong Kong’s iconic bun festival attracted tens of thousands of visitors to Cheung Chau on Wednesday, a public holiday marking Buddha’s Birthday.
The Jiao Festival and bun scramble returned to the island last year, after a three-year halt owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Other celebrations included a kung fu show, and the Piu Sik Parade, which translates as “Floating Colours” – in which children in fancy dress are held up on towering poles and paraded through the winding streets of the outlying island.
Traditionally, they dress up in satirical costumes mimicking top officials, such as the chief executive. This year, some were spotted dressed as security chief Chris Tang, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun and police officers.
Islands District Councillor Kwok Wai-man said during a RTHK Radio programme on Thursday that 51,000 people had flocked to the island for the festival, an increase of 3,000 over last year.
The day culminated in a late-night scramble by competitors up a precipitous 18-metre “bun tower” made from imitation buns.
Yip Kin-man won the men’s race with 776 marks, whilst Kung Tsz-shan was the women’s event champion.
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