HONG KONG: CHEUNG CHAU: ANNUAL BUN FESTIVAL CELEBRATED

Описание: (9 May 1997) Natural Sound

The annual bun festival is being celebrated on the island of Cheung Chau in Hong Kong and the highlight is a colourful parade through the island's narrow streets.

Children, dressed up as historical figures, appear to float above the procession through the ingenious use of hidden frames which support them.

Cheung Chau's normally bustling harbour seemed virtually deserted on Friday as the island's fishermen deserted their boats to celebrate the traditional bun festival.

These are the famous steamed buns which give the 'Ta Chiu' festival its English name.

They are put on huge bamboo frames in front of the island's Pak Tai Temple to appease two types of ghosts, which according to legends, haunt the island.

Up until 20 years ago local people used to climb the 20 metre (yard) high bun towers to grab a bun for good luck.

The higher the bun you took - the greater your luck.

These days, however, the buns are handed out at the end of the four day festival.

The highlight of the celebrations is a street procession which winds its way through Cheung Chau's warren of narrow streets.

Children dress up as historical figures, and through the ingenious use of hidden frames, appear to balance on impossibly small bases.

Taoist priests perform religious rites to protect the island for another year from the evil spirits, calling on three deities to help them - Shang Shan is the red faced god of earth and mountains, Do Dei Gong is protector of the household and Dei Ching Wong, ruler of the underworld.

There are also traditional lion dancers to ensure the whole procession is as noisy and colourful as possible.

This year - being the last festival before the return of Hong Kong to Chinese rule - there was even a special 'Hong Kong Governor' figure floating on top of the Hong Kong and British flags.

And not too far behind - a child representing the Chinese People's Liberation Army - to remind the crowd just who will be taking over in less than two months time.

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