Every year, participants in the Cheung Chau Bun Festival in Hong Kong race to climb a towering bun tower and collect as many buns as possible for good luck, and a chance to win the title of 'Bun King'. The competition is high-stakes, and its features have been shaped by over a century of tradition on Cheung Chau Island in Hong Kong.

Janet Kong, champion of the 2026 bun tower climbing race, said what distinguishes this competition is the need to quickly grab a bun and precisely place it in the bag, 'because many grab it quickly but make a mistake putting it into the bag hanging behind them.' She added, 'We only have 3 minutes to climb, grab the buns, and then descend.. one mistake will lead to your disqualification.'

Behind this speed and precision is a story rooted in history and community spirit, as the Bun Festival is believed to have originally started as a ritual aimed at warding off a devastating plague. Janet Kong said the bun tower, in fact, was not built for humans; it was originally intended for spirits, to satisfy them with buns 'so they wouldn't be mischievous.'

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