Cheung Chau Bun Festival

It was a public holiday yesterday with it being the "Buddha's Birthday", so I thought I'd stop by Cheung Chau Island for the Bun Festival...


Destination
Cheung Chau Island 長洲

Transport
Bus/MTR to Central, and then a ferry to Cheung Chau Island.

Things To Do
The Bun Festival was originally a ritual, performed to the god Pak Tai, for protection against pirates. Yesterday, I went to see the Bun Festival Parade, which is performed as part of this ritual.

There were about 21 traditional performances, including dragon and lion dances; percussion and wind instrument playing (no idea what the names are); and parades-in-the-air 飄色會景巡遊 where little children in costumes are suspended up in the air (by steel frames). (Pictures in the Photo Album)

Gosh it was blinkin hot, with temperatures easily reaching around 30 degrees, there were tons of people piling up by the roadside watching this parade. I have no idea how the performers coped in their costumes and thick make-up, especially the little parade-in-the-air children, they're suspended up there for 3-4 hours with no changeovers.

Also had a look at the bun mountains, at midnight competitors would clamber up a bun tower, and grab as many buns as they can, but cos of work the next day, I couldn't stay to watch :(

Interesting fact
As part of the tradition of this festival, the whole island goes veggie for 3 days, so you won't find a scrap of meat being sold during this time... ha ha ha yeah, even McDonalds will just offer vegetarian on their menus :)

Reading
~ Cheung Chau Island ~
~ Bun Festival ~