{"id":218875,"date":"2025-04-25T09:30:01","date_gmt":"2025-04-25T01:30:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/?p=218875"},"modified":"2025-04-25T10:36:53","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T02:36:53","slug":"cheung-chau-bun-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/cheung-chau-bun-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"Cheung Chau Bun Festival: A celebration for people, deities, and ghosts"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The seamless blend of modern dynamism and rich tradition gives Hong Kong its unique charm. While <a href=\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/chinese-temples-in-hong-kong-gods-deities\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">temples<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/historic-buildings-hong-kong\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">historical buildings<\/a> break up rows of towering high-rises in the centre, the <a href=\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/islands-around-hong-kong-day-trips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">outlying islands<\/a> are where you\u2019ll find culture beyond concrete constructions. Held in <a href=\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/what-to-do-in-cheung-chau\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cheung Chau<\/a>, the Cheung Chau Bun Festival is one of Hong Kong\u2019s best known traditional festivals. While the Bun Scrambling Competition and Carnival usually take centre stage, there\u2019s much more to the festivities than meets the eye. As Honeycombers\u2019 resident culture expert, I\u2019m here to unpack the rich cultural tapestry of this traditional festival.<\/p>\n<h2>Cheung Chau Bun Festival: A deep dive<\/h2>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_72 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/cheung-chau-bun-festival\/#An_overview_of_traditional_Hong_Kong_holidays\" title=\"An overview of traditional Hong Kong holidays\">An overview of traditional Hong Kong holidays<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/cheung-chau-bun-festival\/#Da_jiao_%E6%89%93%E9%86%AE_A_cleansing_ritual\" title=\"Da jiao (\u6253\u91ae): A cleansing ritual\">Da jiao (\u6253\u91ae): A cleansing ritual<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/cheung-chau-bun-festival\/#A_festival_that_restores_peace\" title=\"A festival that restores peace\">A festival that restores peace<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/cheung-chau-bun-festival\/#A_time_for_opera\" title=\"A time for opera\">A time for opera<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/cheung-chau-bun-festival\/#Ghostly_entertainment\" title=\"Ghostly entertainment\">Ghostly entertainment<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/cheung-chau-bun-festival\/#Jiao_on_Cheung_Chau_Plague_killer_turned_bun_festival\" title=\"Jiao on Cheung Chau: Plague killer turned bun festival\">Jiao on Cheung Chau: Plague killer turned bun festival<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/cheung-chau-bun-festival\/#Jiao_A_divine_affair\" title=\"Jiao: A divine affair\">Jiao: A divine affair<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/cheung-chau-bun-festival\/#Where_did_the_buns_come_from\" title=\"Where did the buns come from?\">Where did the buns come from?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/cheung-chau-bun-festival\/#Piu_Sik_Parade_Tour_of_luck_and_children\" title=\"Piu Sik Parade: Tour of luck and children\">Piu Sik Parade: Tour of luck and children<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/cheung-chau-bun-festival\/#All_about_the_buns_Todays_jiao_on_Cheung_Chau\" title=\"All about the buns: Today\u2019s jiao on Cheung Chau\">All about the buns: Today\u2019s jiao on Cheung Chau<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/cheung-chau-bun-festival\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions\" title=\"Frequently Asked Questions\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/cheung-chau-bun-festival\/#What_exactly_is_the_Cheung_Chau_Bun_Festival_and_why_is_it_so_special\" title=\"What exactly is the Cheung Chau Bun Festival, and why is it so special?\">What exactly is the Cheung Chau Bun Festival, and why is it so special?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/cheung-chau-bun-festival\/#What_are_the_main_highlights_of_the_Cheung_Chau_Bun_Festival_that_visitors_shouldnt_miss\" title=\"What are the main highlights of the Cheung Chau Bun Festival that visitors shouldn&#039;t miss?\">What are the main highlights of the Cheung Chau Bun Festival that visitors shouldn&#039;t miss?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/cheung-chau-bun-festival\/#When_does_the_Cheung_Chau_Bun_Festival_typically_take_place_and_is_it_easy_for_visitors_to_get_to_Cheung_Chau\" title=\"When does the Cheung Chau Bun Festival typically take place, and is it easy for visitors to get to Cheung Chau?\">When does the Cheung Chau Bun Festival typically take place, and is it easy for visitors to get to Cheung Chau?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"An_overview_of_traditional_Hong_Kong_holidays\"><\/span>An overview of traditional Hong Kong holidays<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_218888\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-218888\" style=\"width: 900px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-218888 size-medium lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-overview-900x643.jpg\" alt=\"cheung chau bun festival overview\" width=\"900\" height=\"643\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-overview-900x643.jpg 900w, https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-overview-768x549.jpg 768w, https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-overview.jpg 1400w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 900px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 900\/643;\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-218888\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Festivities at on Cheung Chau during the Bun Festival (Photography: ying bun ho via Flickr)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Did you know that traditional festivals in Hong Kong are divided into three categories: <em>zit<\/em> (\u7bc0), <em>daan<\/em> (\u8a95), and <em>jiao<\/em> (\u91ae)? <strong><em>Zit<\/em><\/strong> best aligns with what we typically think of as a \u201cfestival\u201d and celebrates seasonal changes. An example would be the <a href=\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/mid-autumn-festival-hong-kong\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mid-Autumn Festival<\/a> (\u4e2d\u79cb\u7bc0; <em>zung cau zit<\/em>), which heralds harvesting season and autumn\u2019s arrival. While <em>zit<\/em> also involves deities and ancestors, it\u2019s primarily a celebration for (and of) the living.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Daan<\/strong><\/em> are holidays that celebrate a deity\u2019s birthday, such as the Buddha\u2019s Birthday, which is known as <em>fat daan<\/em> (\u4f5b\u8a95) in Cantonese, and even Christmas.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, we have <em><strong>jiao<\/strong><\/em>. This is the category that the Cheung Chau Bun Festival falls under. While <em>zit<\/em> and <em>daan<\/em> are one-day occasions, a <em>jiao<\/em> is much more elaborate and can take around a week to complete, with preparations starting months in advance. What\u2019s most fascinating about <em>jiao<\/em> is that it\u2019s not just for deities, ancestors, and the living \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/hungry-ghost-festival-hong-kong-culture\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hungry ghosts<\/a> also join the party!<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Da_jiao_%E6%89%93%E9%86%AE_A_cleansing_ritual\"><\/span><em>Da jiao<\/em> (\u6253\u91ae): A cleansing ritual<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_218883\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-218883\" style=\"width: 900px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-218883 size-medium lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-festivities-900x643.jpg\" alt=\"festivities\" width=\"900\" height=\"643\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-festivities-900x643.jpg 900w, https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-festivities-768x549.jpg 768w, https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-festivities.jpg 1400w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 900px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 900\/643;\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-218883\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jiao festivities at the Cheung Chau Bun Festival (Photography: Laszlo Ilyes via Wikimedia Commons)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_festival_that_restores_peace\"><\/span>A festival that restores peace<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Anthropologist David Faure describes jiao as a \u201ccommunity exorcism\u201d \u2013 and it\u2019s a pretty good way to put it! The idea of cleansing is embedded in jiao\u2019s full name: <em>taai ping cing ziu<\/em> (\u592a\u5e73\u6e05\u91ae). While <em>taai ping<\/em> means peace, <em>cing<\/em> carries the double meaning of clear and clean. Hosting a <em>jiao<\/em> is a monumental undertaking, where the whole village or community gives thanks to ancestors and deities, make offerings to wandering ghosts, and gather in festive cheer while casting away negative vibes.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_time_for_opera\"><\/span>A time for opera<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>To make sure everyone feels included, there are specific activities tailored for people, deities and ancestors, and even ghosts! The first three groups are treated to Cantonese opera and <em>san gung hei<\/em> (\u795e\u529f\u6232; plays that give thanks to deities).<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ghostly_entertainment\"><\/span>Ghostly entertainment<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_218884\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-218884\" style=\"width: 900px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-218884 size-medium lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-ghostly-entertainment-900x643.jpg\" alt=\"cheung chau bun festival ghostly entertainment\" width=\"900\" height=\"643\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-ghostly-entertainment-900x643.jpg 900w, https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-ghostly-entertainment-768x549.jpg 768w, https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-ghostly-entertainment.jpg 1400w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 900px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 900\/643;\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-218884\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Paper effigies of deities act as security against ghosts at the Cheung Chau Bun Festival (Photography: 29cm via Flickr)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Ghosts are given food and paper offerings that help them onto the afterlife in two <em>zai yau<\/em> (\u796d\u5e7d; \u201cghost sacrifice\u201d) sessions \u2013 hence \u201cexorcism.\u201d An important figure here is the \u201cghost master,\u201d <em>daai si wong<\/em> (\u5927\u58eb\u738b). Acting as bouncer and security at a <em>jiao<\/em>, <em>daai si wong<\/em> keeps hungry ghosts from troubling the living and ensures they don\u2019t linger after the jiao has ended.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Jiao_on_Cheung_Chau_Plague_killer_turned_bun_festival\"><\/span><em>Jiao<\/em> on Cheung Chau: Plague killer turned bun festival<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_218887\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-218887\" style=\"width: 900px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-218887 size-medium lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-old-picture-900x643.jpg\" alt=\"plague killer turned festival\" width=\"900\" height=\"643\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-old-picture-900x643.jpg 900w, https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-old-picture-768x549.jpg 768w, https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-old-picture.jpg 1400w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 900px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 900\/643;\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-218887\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cheung Chau inhabitants scrambling for buns in 1969 (Photography: National Archives, UK via Flickr)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The timing and frequency of a <em>jiao<\/em> vary depending on the village or clan hosting it. Because of this, each <em>jiao<\/em> has its unique story of origin. On Cheung Chau, the festival dates back to the mid-Qing Dynasty. The commonly known version of the story is that land- and boat-dwelling communities on Cheung Chau organised a <em>jiao<\/em> to rid a deadly pandemic, with festivities centring around the water deity Pak Tai. After a three-day ceremony, the plague miraculously vanished. To thank the deity for his blessings, Cheung Chau communities made the <em>jiao<\/em> an annual occasion.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Jiao_A_divine_affair\"><\/span><em>Jiao<\/em>: A divine affair<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_218891\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-218891\" style=\"width: 900px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-218891 size-medium lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-sedan-chair-900x643.jpg\" alt=\"cheung chau bun festival escorting tin hau\" width=\"900\" height=\"643\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-sedan-chair-900x643.jpg 900w, https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-sedan-chair-768x549.jpg 768w, https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-sedan-chair.jpg 1400w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 900px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 900\/643;\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-218891\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cheung Chau inhabitants escorting Tin Hau from her temple to the festival grounds (Photography: Chong Fat via Wikimedia Commons)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Given deities\u2019 sacred status, they receive the VIP treatment at a <em>jiao<\/em>. Not only do they get their own \u201cspectating area\u201d with prime views of festivities, people also escort deity statues from temples to festival grounds on a mini sedan chair! On Cheung Chau, this happens three days before the <em>jiao<\/em> and the entourage consists of water deities Hung Shing Kung and Tin Hau, as well as martial deity Kwan Tai.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_218889\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-218889\" style=\"width: 900px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-218889 size-medium lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-pak-tai-tent-900x643.jpg\" alt=\"pak tai altar\" width=\"900\" height=\"643\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-pak-tai-tent-900x643.jpg 900w, https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-pak-tai-tent-768x549.jpg 768w, https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-pak-tai-tent.jpg 1400w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 900px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 900\/643;\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-218889\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A special altar for Pak Tai at the Cheung Chau Bun Festival (Photography: Chong Fat via Wikimedia Commons)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><em>Jiao<\/em> has to take place during an auspicious time, traditionally chosen by poe divination, where two crescent-shaped wooden pieces are tossed to seek a \u201cgood\u201d date from a deity. However, Cheung Chau folks only use it to appoint a festival lead, since in 2001, poe divination caused a scheduling conflict with Buddha\u2019s Birthday. To avoid further clashes, the community sought and received permission from Pak Tai himself through poe divination to fix the date to the eighth day of the fourth lunar month \u2013 a move that\u2019s testament to their deep connection to the deity!<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_did_the_buns_come_from\"><\/span>Where did the buns come from?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_218880\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-218880\" style=\"width: 900px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-218880 size-medium lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-bun-towers-900x643.jpg\" alt=\"cheung chau bun festival bun towers\" width=\"900\" height=\"643\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-bun-towers-900x643.jpg 900w, https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-bun-towers-768x549.jpg 768w, https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-bun-towers.jpg 1400w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 900px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 900\/643;\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-218880\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bun towers for climbing and sacrificing to deities and ghosts at the festival grounds (Photography: Chong Fat via Wikimedia Commons)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The iconic bun towers have their roots in a Chiu Chow ritual called <em>coeng gu<\/em> (\u6436\u5b64), where people seize offerings made to deities, believing them to be endowed with their blessings. On Cheung Chau, this manifests as the famous Bun Scrambling Competition, where residents climb the towers to grab for \u201cpeace buns\u201d (\u5e73\u5b89\u5305) in hopes of bringing good fortune and well-being to themselves and their families.<\/p>\n<p>Since the towers toppled under the weight of climbers in 1978 and caused significant casualties, the government banned bun scrambling until 2005, where it returned as a regulated competition. Now, not only are the bun towers properly reinforced and safer to climb, but all Hong Kong residents can apply to participate in this exhilarating event!<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Piu_Sik_Parade_Tour_of_luck_and_children\"><\/span>Piu Sik Parade: Tour of luck and children<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_218890\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-218890\" style=\"width: 900px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-218890 size-medium lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-piu-sik-900x643.jpg\" alt=\"piu sik parade\" width=\"900\" height=\"643\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-piu-sik-900x643.jpg 900w, https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-piu-sik-768x549.jpg 768w, https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-piu-sik.jpg 1400w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 900px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 900\/643;\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-218890\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A jaw-dropping balancing act! (Photography: istolethetv via Wikimedia Commons)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Another highlight of the Cheung Chau Bun Festival is the Piu Sik Parade (\u98c4\u8272\u5de1\u904a; \u201cfloating colours parade\u201d). In an impressive feat of balance and engineering, young children dressed in elaborate period costumes are cleverly positioned on a hidden supportive frame, so they appear to be \u201cfloating\u201d above the parade crowd as they traverse the streets of Cheung Chau! As children often dress up as mythical characters, the parade is thought to bring luck to every corner of the island.<\/p>\n<p>Despite being an iconic event of the festival, the Piu Sik Parade was actually only added to the itinerary after Chiu Chow residents returned from a visit to Fo Shan in the 1920s, where they first witnessed the custom among Fo Shan natives and decided to bring the spectacle back to Hong Kong.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"All_about_the_buns_Todays_jiao_on_Cheung_Chau\"><\/span>All about the buns: Today\u2019s <em>jiao<\/em> on Cheung Chau<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_218881\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-218881\" style=\"width: 900px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-218881 size-medium lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-buns-900x643.jpg\" alt=\"cheung chau bun festival buns\" width=\"900\" height=\"643\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-buns-900x643.jpg 900w, https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-buns-768x549.jpg 768w, https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-buns.jpg 1400w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 900px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 900\/643;\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-218881\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">While the buns on the towers are inedible, you\u2019ll find plenty edible ones for sale at traditional bakeries around Cheung Chau (Photography: Manshuwncvlwoo via Wikimedia Commons)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Today, apart from <em>jiao<\/em> rituals and ceremonies, the Cheung Chau Bun Festival also includes a buzzing carnival to entertain festival-goers from other parts of Hong Kong and abroad. You can expect a variety of game booths, food stalls, and <a href=\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/souvenirs-hong-kong\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">souvenir shops<\/a> selling iconic Cheung Chau memorabilia.<\/p>\n<p><em>What cultural gem do you want to know about next? DM <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/honeycombershk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@honeycombershk<\/a> on Instagram or drop me an email at <a href=\"celia.lee@thehoneycombers.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">celia.lee@thehoneycombers.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\"><\/span>Frequently Asked Questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div id=\"faqs-accordion\"><h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_exactly_is_the_Cheung_Chau_Bun_Festival_and_why_is_it_so_special\"><\/span>What exactly is the Cheung Chau Bun Festival, and why is it so special?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><div><p>The Cheung Chau Bun Festival and Bun Carnival is a month-long celebration of local deities and communities. It is one of the most significant festivals in Hong Kong due to the continued performance of centuries-old rituals, and ceremonies native to land- and boat-dwelling communities on Cheung Chau. This is also why the Cheung Chau Bun Festival is listed as one of the city\u2019s intangible cultural heritage.<\/p>\n<\/div><h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_main_highlights_of_the_Cheung_Chau_Bun_Festival_that_visitors_shouldnt_miss\"><\/span>What are the main highlights of the Cheung Chau Bun Festival that visitors shouldn&#039;t miss?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><div><p>The main highlights of the Cheung Chau Bun Festival are the Piu Sik Parade (taking place on the main festival date) and the Bun Scrambling Competition (the final round takes place on the last day of the festival). While the parade is a cultural spectacle, the competition is a thrilling event imbued with festive cheer, making both unmissable elements of the festival.<\/p>\n<\/div><h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_does_the_Cheung_Chau_Bun_Festival_typically_take_place_and_is_it_easy_for_visitors_to_get_to_Cheung_Chau\"><\/span>When does the Cheung Chau Bun Festival typically take place, and is it easy for visitors to get to Cheung Chau?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><div><p>The Cheung Chau Bun Festival takes place on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, which usually falls in late April to early May. Transport to Cheung Chau is frequent and convenient, with ferries going from the Central Pier every day. Do keep in mind that ferries might be packed with festival-goers, so it\u2019s best to arrive early to dodge the crowds.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What exactly is the Cheung Chau Bun Festival, and why is it so special?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The Cheung Chau Bun Festival and Bun Carnival is a month-long celebration of local deities and communities. It is one of the most significant festivals in Hong Kong due to the continued performance of centuries-old rituals, and ceremonies native to land- and boat-dwelling communities on Cheung Chau. 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While temples and historical buildings break up rows of towering high-rises in the centre, the outlying islands are where you\u2019ll find culture beyond concrete constructions. Held in Cheung Chau, the Cheung Chau Bun Festival is one of Hong Kong\u2019s best [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":107607,"featured_media":218885,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"categories":[1136,18024,9,18026],"tags":[31147],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v23.7 (Yoast SEO v23.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Cheung Chau Bun Festival: A celebration for people, deities, and ghosts<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn more about Hong Kong\u2019s Cheung Chau Bun Festival, a unique showcase of local culture.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/cheung-chau-bun-festival\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Cheung Chau Bun Festival: A celebration for people, deities, and ghosts\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The seamless blend of modern dynamism and rich tradition gives Hong Kong its unique charm. While temples and historical buildings break up rows of\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/cheung-chau-bun-festival\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Honeycombers Hong Kong\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/honeycombershongkong\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-04-25T01:30:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-04-25T02:36:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-lead-image.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Celia Lee\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@honeycombershk\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@honeycombershk\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Celia Lee\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/cheung-chau-bun-festival\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/cheung-chau-bun-festival\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Celia Lee\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/#\/schema\/person\/275279f18145f9a82224661f8a900689\"},\"headline\":\"Cheung Chau Bun Festival: A celebration for people, deities, and ghosts\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-04-25T01:30:01+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-04-25T02:36:53+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/cheung-chau-bun-festival\/\"},\"wordCount\":1318,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/cheung-chau-bun-festival\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-lead-image.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Hong Kong culture\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Arts &amp; Entertainment\",\"Local Buzz\",\"Things To Do\",\"What's On\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/cheung-chau-bun-festival\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/cheung-chau-bun-festival\/\",\"name\":\"Cheung Chau Bun Festival: A celebration for people, deities, and ghosts\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/cheung-chau-bun-festival\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/cheung-chau-bun-festival\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-lead-image.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-04-25T01:30:01+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-04-25T02:36:53+00:00\",\"description\":\"Learn more about Hong Kong\u2019s Cheung Chau Bun Festival, a unique showcase of local culture.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/cheung-chau-bun-festival\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/cheung-chau-bun-festival\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/cheung-chau-bun-festival\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-lead-image.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/static.thehoneycombers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/cheung-chau-bun-festival-lead-image.jpg\",\"width\":1400,\"height\":1000,\"caption\":\"Buns for all at the Cheung Chau Bun Festival! 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