Upcoming Agenda
Beijing was elected the Host City for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in 2008.
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Cheung Chau Bun Festival
The celebration includes Taoist praying, opera performances and ends with processions performed by children dressed in colorful costumes.
Bun towers are built with bamboo structures 60 foot high, piled with sweet buns, outside the Pak Tai temple. Since these buns are blessed, in the old days, people climbed up the bun towers and compete for buns at midnight on the first day of the festival. It was supposed to appease the spirits of the people who died in a 19th century plague on the island. Since an accident happened in 1978 when more then 100 people were injured there is no more competition. Buns are distributed to the believers after the ceremony. You can also buy these buns from local bakers.
The whole island will go vegetarian three days before the procession. You won't find any meat and eggs in restaurants. Most restaurants sell vegetarian dishes and some simply close. Non-believers have to buy meat from Hong Kong island on those few days! However, when the procession is finished, everything goes back to normal.
The procession is the best part of the festival. Different local communities arrange their own floats. Children are put onto a tiny seat attached to steel rods so that they look as though they are floating or standing high up on top of a pole. Colourful costumes help to cover up the seat.
When: May 12th 2008
