The Bun Festival(包山节 Bāoshān jié) also known as Cheung Chau(长洲 Chángzhōu) Bun Festival, takes place on the island of Cheung Chau of Hong Kong, and is also a major program recommended by the Hong Kong Tourism Board. This festival is held on the April 6 in traditional Chinese calendar, two days later the street procession will be held. During this period, all the residents on the island only eat vegetables as well as the tourists, even the McDonald’s near the wharf choose to use mushrooms instead of beef.

There is once a legend about the origin of the festival. It is said that in the 18th Century the island of Cheung Chau was devastated by a plague and infiltrated by pirates till local fishermen brought a picture of the god Pak Tai(北帝 Běidì) to the island. By way of Parading via the village lanes, the deity drove away evil spirits. Villagers also came up with an idea, they disguised themselves as various deities and walked around the island to drive the evil spirits away.

For local residents, the festival is actually the continuation of their community’s tradition. They possess a sturdy sense of community and individuals who have left to work elsewhere will return for this celebration. For those who crowd the ferry boats towards the erstwhile pirate haven, this is actually the magnificent Cheung Chau Bun Festival. The celebration of the festival including Taoist rituals and music, a parade, lion dances, drum beating and unusual competitors involving a tower of buns will usually last for the whole week.

There are mainly two programs during Bun Festival every year: the Bun Scrambling and the street procession, the Bun Scrambling is a unique and exciting activity in Cheung Chau. Residents and fishermen there all believe that bun of the Bun can cure a variety of diseases, if you grab it, it’ll not only bring you happiness, but also the almighty drugs. Strangely, the bun which has been exposed to the sun and rain, would not be bad, either sour.

The Climbing Carnival allows the public to enjoy the fun of bun tower climbing. The activities consist of climbing play-ins, an exhibition, game stalls, handicraft, lion dances, etc. In celebration of the inscription of the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival onto the National Checklist of Intangible Cultural Heritage, the highlight of the Festival, the Bun Scrambling Competition-its past and present, will be featured in the exhibition booth. Members of the public may also undergo the nostalgic fun of taking part in conventional folk games at the game stalls, and look at the plaque of the worldwide list Intangible Cultural Heritage presented to the Hong Kong Cheung Chau Bun Festival Committee by Mainland in 2011 to share the pleasure brought by the honor. In short, it’s a very popular event.