Ice climber from Cheung Chau, Hong Kong takes the top spot in bun-grabbing competition
A resident of Cheung Chau and a fearless ice climber triumphed in the annual bun scrambling competition on this outlying island of Hong Kong, with the former racking up his 10th victory since 2005. Kwok Ka-ming took home the coveted "bun king" title against eight male competitors, tallying a whopping 1,131 points. In the "bun queen" category, Janet Kung triumphed over her two peers by securing an impressive 446 points.
This year's contest saw Kung, a 31-year-old registered nurse and ice climber, clinch her third victory - earning her the prestigious title of "queen of bun queens." Emotional and proud, she stated, "Winning the title of queen of bun queens is a significant milestone for me. After participating in this competition for nine years, I plan to keep joining the race."
She continued, "This competition is like a yearly report card on my fitness and psychological outlook, allowing me to witness my progress." Interestingly, Kung admitted feeling more anxious for the bun-scrambling race than when she competes internationally as a climber.
Established in 1894, the Cheung Chau Bun Scrambling Competition possesses a rich history rooted in Taoist folklore and numerous comebacks. The event originated as islanders implored Pak Tai, a deity, to put an end to a devastating plague. Over time, this ritual morphed into an annual festival featuring peace buns as offerings, which evolved into the competition's current format.
The competition was temporarily halted in 1978 due to a bamboo bun tower collapse causing injuries. This led to a 27-year suspension of the event before it resumed in 2005 with reinforced steel structures and enhanced safety measures in place. The competition was subsequently added to China's National Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2011.
The modern competition involves 12 finalists (chosen through April qualifiers) who compete to collect the most points by securing plastic buns in the current 14-meter-tall steel-framed tower marked with varying point values. The event emphasizes symbolic victory (collecting "peace buns") over athletic records, reflecting its original purpose of fostering community harmony.
In 2024, Janet Kung, the victorious "queen of bun queens" and a renowned ice climber, aims to participate in the Cheung Chau Bun Scrambling Competition once more. This annual sports event, rooted in Taoist folklore and rich history, provides a unique sports-analysis opportunity for participants like Janet to assess their fitness and psychological progress. Remarkably, Janet has expressed feeling more anxious for the bun-scrambling race than when she competes internationally as a climber.
