Cheung Chau Bun Festival 長洲太平清醮
Cheung Chau Bun Festivalis
a traditional Chinese festival on the island of Cheung Chau. It is held
annually in the fourth month (moon) of the Chinese calendar. http://www.cheungchau.org/, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dajiao
The Cheung Chau Bun
Festival began as a fun and exciting ritual for fishing communities to
pray for safety from pirates. Today, it becomes a showcase of
traditional Chinese culture.
Cheung Chau is located at the south west of Hong Kong Island. It takes about thirty minutes to one hour by ferry from Central. http://www.nwff.com.hk/eng/fare_table/
The festival draws a great many overseas tourists and locals every year.
Yeah! We are from Australia. Cheese. 
Three mountains of buns (three 60 feet
bamboo towers covered with buns) and other buns are for worshipping
Divinities. In the past, this was the place to hold 'bun-snatching' at
mid-night.
When midnight came, hundreds young men
climbed up to the three bun mountains, torn off all the buns, put them
in bag or spread them over the crowd.
After the accident and collapse in
1978, bun-snatching was resumed in 1985. The framework of this bun
mountain is now made up of steel. All participants, divided into male
and female groups, are mountaineering equiped climbers.
Pai Tai (North King) Temple at the
northern part of Cheung Chau. The Pak Tai is believed to have the power
to confer smooth sailing for the fishing boats as well as providing good
catches for their crews.
The followers hang their names and wishes on the tag of incense.
After bun-snatching, all buds would be
distributed to locals at free. But because of hot weather and high
humidity, some (or all) buns would be moulded and not edible. Please
note.
Procession Route
An important ingredient in Procession
is Parade-in-the-air. About two hours before the start, they will have
final check and decoration of the steel frame.
All are secured on a trolley.
It is suggested to occupy a seat along the procession route two hours before the start and wait them to come.
They parade in the form of organizations.
Their divinity is carried in sedan chair to parade.
Children dressed as legendary, modern
heroes or local government officials are suspended on steel frame, like
to glide through the air. This is therefore called Parade-in-the-air.
Parents consider it a great honour for their children to be members of the parade.
The boy dressed in custume clothing.
The weather is very hot, they each hold an electric fan on hand.
It is too hot, we have to take off the coat, become a little girl in the street and eat ice-cream to cool down.
The whole procession takes about two
hours. It is suggested to occupy a good location with plastic chairs
along the procession route beforehand. In this connection, the
participation in the Bun Festival and Parade-in-the-air can be fully
enhanced. You are highly recommended to participate in this wonderful
Bun Festival in the years to come.
Since it is called Bun Festival, quite a lot of souvenirs and merchandise are in the shape of bun, like socks for infant.
Lucky bun key-ring
Bun bags
Non-edible buns in bamboo steamer are too funny and amusing.
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