CHEUNG CHAU, Hong Kong — Thousands of revellers descended on Hong Kong’s Cheung Chau island Sunday for the annual Bun Festival, cheering on elaborately costumed child performers and lining up for traditional “peace buns” in one of the city’s most beloved cultural celebrations.
Child performers dominated the afternoon parade, drawing applause from spectators as they portrayed characters drawn from ancient legends, contemporary social issues and popular television dramas. Many of the young participants had been preparing since early morning, and organizers said applications from children were up this year, buoyed by a public holiday on Monday.
First-time visitor described the island’s atmosphere as “lively and joyful,” saying he plans to return. A university student studying costume design arrived by ferry at 8 a.m. to secure a good vantage point.
“There are other Buddha’s Birthday celebrations in the city, but the vibe here is more exciting and it’s more crowded,” she said. “I will bring more friends to the festival next year. It is a very good experience and totally worth going.”
A group of 10 mainland Chinese visitors singled out child performers dressed as Hong Kong athletes for special praise, saying their portrayal captured the city’s competitive spirit.
“The kid dressed up as a swimming champion… demonstrating the ‘Hong Kong spirit’ of being a champion,” one visitor said.
The festive crowds proved a boon for local vendors. Bakery owner Kwok Yu-tin reported long queues and sales of roughly 60,000 buns over the past eight to 10 days — on par with last year. To broaden his customer base, Kwok introduced stuffed bun plush toys and partnered with an airline on themed in-flight meals.
This year, however, customers paid slightly more for the experience. The price of a peace bun rose from HK$11 to HK$12, the first increase in four to five years.
“The underlying costs — labour, rent and ingredients — have become more expensive every year. So this year, we have no choice but to raise the price by a dollar,” Kwok said.
Not all customers minded. An elderly man who traveled from Sheung Shui purchased 28 buns and said he has been buying from the same shop for 21 years.
