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Oscar Liu

Emily Hung

A Cheung Chau resident and a female ice climber have emerged victorious at an annual bun scrambling competition on the outlying island in Hong Kong, with the former clinching his 10th victory since 2005.
Newly crowned “bun king” Kwok Ka-ming clinched victory against eight men by earning 1,131 points, while “bun queen” Janet Kung beat her two other female competitors by securing 446 points.
This year’s contest marked registered nurse and ice climber Kung’s third victory after past triumphs in 2019 and 2024, netting her the prestigious title of “queen of bun queens”.
“Earning the title of queen of bun queens is a milestone for me. After taking part in this game for nine years, I will continue to participate in the race,” the 31-year-old said.
“It is just like a report card of my fitness and attitude every year, allowing me to witness my improvement.”
Kung said she felt more nervous for the bun-scrambling race than when she competes internationally as a climber.
“I’m the most nervous in Hong Kong. There were just three minutes [to complete the race] and every climber is very experienced. I know all Hongkongers were watching the game.”
For Kwok, his latest victory made him a 10-time bun king. But the island local said he had not expected to win this time.
“At my age, I just aim to take part in it,” he said. “The strategy is to grab as many nine-point buns as possible … and start to descend after one minute no matter what.”
The Cheung Chau resident, now in his early forties, earned the title of “king of bun kings” in 2019, after winning the championship three times since the title was introduced in 2016.
Kwok was just 23 when he became the first bun king in 2005.


Meanwhile, office clerk Wong Chi-kit and climbing coach Yau Ka-chun claimed second and third places in the men’s category this year with 968 and 950 points, respectively.
Firefighter Yip Kin-man, who emerged as one of last year’s victors, managed this time around to win the “Full Pocket of Lucky Buns” prize for the most buns grabbed. He got to grips with 170 buns, overshadowing Kwok’s tally of 27.
The competition, which has roots dating back to the 19th century, involves scaling a 14-metre (46-foot) tower covered with 9,000 plastic buns, with points being earned based on how high up the buns are on the structure.
But a high score means nothing if a climber fails to make it back down within three minutes.
With a bang of the gong by culture minister Rosanna Law Shuk-pui at midnight, the 12 climbers raced up the tower in a bid to get the top buns, worth nine points each. Within a minute, all 900 of them were gone.
There was a brief rain of plastic as some climbers struggled to get their buns into their bags and let them drop to the ground below.
The contestants then climbed further down the tower to grab the buns worth three points and even those worth just one apiece, stuffing them in their bags while keeping an eye on the timer.
This year’s climbers kept things punctual, with all 12 managing to get back down the tower with a bag full of buns within three minutes.
Earlier on, about 200 residents and tourists started lining up on Monday evening, hours before the competition at midnight.
People queued up for tickets outside the fire station near the park at 8.30pm, even though ticket distribution did not begin until 10pm.

Ken So Kwok-wah, 53, a security guard, travelled to Cheung Chau the day before and slept on a bench near the playground solely to secure a spot.
“I’ve been watching the bun scrambling competition every year except during Covid times. It never disappoints as the energy is just out of this world, and even spectators can feel the adrenaline rush of the contestants,” he said.
“Coming a day before is just easier as I live in Sau Mau Ping. I don’t need to rush with many people today to take a ferry.”
Trident Cheung, 41, a former meter reader who is currently unemployed and has known So for years due to their shared tradition of queuing for the bun scrambling event, secured the first spot in the line this year.
He emphasised that watching the event live was a completely different experience from watching it on television.
“Television only broadcasts the individual final, but I also want to support the relay contests after that. Nothing could beat the firework display after the event ends,” Cheung said.
Yolanda Wu, 40, a television scriptwriter from Shanghai, visited Hong Kong for three days with her friend during the Labour Day “golden week” holiday, specifically for the bun festival.
“We’ve been to Cheung Chau before, but we missed the bun festival twice. We just want to grab this opportunity that falls on the long weekend this time to see the bun scramble competition ourselves for the first time,” she said.
“We arrived this morning to embrace the whole experience of the festival, as it is one of the intangible cultural events. Hong Kong is a place where Eastern and Western cultures converge. I feel that as the city develops rapidly, traditional culture should be preserved more vigorously.”

The competition is considered to be the highlight of the annual Cheung Chau Bun Festival, with crowds gathering on the evening of the festival’s fourth day before the contest begins at midnight.
The wider festival takes place on the fifth to ninth days of the fourth Chinese lunar month, a period which usually falls sometime in May.


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Hong Kong society

Cheung Chau local, Hong Kong ice climber emerge as bun-grabbing contest winners

The competition is considered to be the highlight of the annual Cheung Chau Bun Festival, with crowds gathering in the evening of the festival’s fourth day before the contest begins at midnight. Photo: Eugene Lee

“Bun King” Kwok Ka-ming and “Bun Queen” Janet Kung celebrate with their trophies. Photo: Eugene Lee

The competition is the highlight of the annual Cheung Chau Bun Festival, with crowds gathering in the evening of the festival’s fourth day before the contest begins at midnight. Photo: Eugene Lee

Meet the top Hong Kong ice climber looking to become ‘queen of bun queens’

Janet Kung is one of the world’s top ice climbing athletes. Photo: Sun Yeung

Janet Kung has said she learned about bun scrambling in 2013 when she spotted a poster at a facility run by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Photo: Sun Yeung

The bun-scrambling contest is part of Hong Kong’s Cheung Chau Bun Festival. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

22,000 revellers brave heat for buns, fishballs and parade at Hong Kong festival

Hongkongers and tourists enjoy the Piu Sik Parade at the Cheung Chau Bun Festival. Photo: Eugene Lee

Themes of this year’s Piu Sik Parade include the animated film character Ne Zha. Photo: Eugene Lee

Tourists and residents queue buy ping on buns at the festival. Photo: Eugene Lee

The festival falls each year on Buddha’s Birthday. Photo: Eugene Lee

A young Piu Sik performer prepares for the parade as spectators pack the streets in Cheung Chau. Photo: Eugene Lee

The annual bun festival coincides with the last day of the Labour Day golden week holiday this year. Photo: Eugene Lee

News

Hong Kong

Society

Island local Kwok Ka-ming clinches his 10th win, while ice climber Janet Kung earns ‘queen of bun queens’ title for repeat wins


Island local Kwok Ka-ming clinches his 10th win, while ice climber Janet Kung earns ‘queen of bun queens’ title for repeat wins.


Hong Kong tourism

Hong Kong culture

Food and Drinks

Cheung Chau local, Hong Kong ice climber emerge as bun-grabbing contest winners

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Island local Kwok Ka-ming clinches his 10th win, while ice climber Janet Kung earns ‘queen of bun queens’ title for repeat wins

Island local Kwok Ka-ming clinches his 10th win, while ice climber Janet Kung earns ‘queen of bun queens’ title for repeat wins