Competitors in Hong Kong have raced up a giant tower of bamboo poles wrapped in buns as the annual Bun Festival drew crowds to Cheung Chau, one of the city’s best-known spring events. The contest is the main attraction of the festival, which combines a mountain-climbing style race with traditional religious rituals and draws attention from visitors and local residents alike.

The event matters for travellers because it is a rare chance to see a long-running local celebration that can affect transport, crowd levels and hotel demand on the small island. The festival typically brings large numbers of spectators to Cheung Chau, making ferries busier and local streets more crowded than usual.

The tower, built from bamboo and covered with buns, is climbed by participants racing to collect as many buns as possible. The festival also includes parades and other cultural activities tied to local beliefs about safety and good fortune. Organisers and local authorities usually manage access and crowd control closely because of the event’s popularity and the island setting.

Photo: www.hongkongfoodietours.com