Guest Author - Taisha Turner
The Cheung Chau Bun Festival is May 15. It is a Taoist ceremony to appease hungry demons. The Hong Kong festival is on the island of Cheung Chau. Take a ferry from the Outlying Islands Ferry Pier No. 5 from Hong Kong’s Central District. Walk northward along The Pak She Praya Road to the Pak Tai Temple.
The Cheung Chau Bun Festival is on the Pak Tai Temple grounds. The week-long festival is a major holiday on Cheung Chau Island. Almost all the island residents take part. Traditionally, throughout the festival, the island residents eat only vegetarian meals.
On the first day of the Cheung Cha Bun Festival, three 60 foot bamboo towers soar skyward. Chinese buns with a red stamp cover the towers. At midnight, the Taoist priests bless the buns. Afterwards, the priests remove the Chinese buns from the bamboo towers and distribute them to the onlookers.
If staying awake for the blessing, is difficult, buy the sweet Chinese buns from local bakers. Try several of the delicious treats.
A colorful parade ends the week-long Cheung Chau Bun Festival. The street parade consists of brightly costumed children on stilts. The children are so high, they appear to float. Also, there are bright banners, floats and lanterns. Dancing lions and unicorns complete the parade.
The Cheung Chau Bun Festival is a great opportunity for the Hong Kong visitor to travel to the island. Go tour and enjoy yourself. Indulge in the vegetarian dishes. Oh and do not forget, try the Chinese buns!
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