Athletes raced up a bun-covered tower on Cheung Chau island this week to compete in the annual Bun Scrambling Competition [1].
The event is a central part of the century-old Cheung Chau Bun Festival, a traditional celebration intended to bring peace and blessings to the community [2].
Competitors began their ascent at the stroke of midnight [1]. The challenge requires climbers to scale a tower standing 14 meters high [3]. The structure is covered in thousands of steamed buns [4], though some reports describe these as plastic versions of the buns [5].
Participants have a strict window of three minutes to complete the climb [1]. The goal of the competition is to collect the highest number of buns within that time limit to secure victory [1].
This speed-climbing event draws athletes and climbers to the island for a test of agility and endurance. The festival remains a significant cultural landmark in Hong Kong, blending athletic competition with long-standing local traditions [2].
“Competitors have three minutes to complete the climb”
The Bun Scrambling Competition serves as a bridge between Hong Kong's ancestral customs and modern athletic competition. By maintaining the midnight climb and the specific 14-meter tower height, the event preserves a unique cultural identity for Cheung Chau island while attracting international attention through its unconventional sporting format.
