Racing for the Buns – The Cheung Chau Bun Festival

Tonight at midnight, twelve competitors (including two women) will race up a steel-reinforced bamboo structure in a quest to see who can collect the most buns. That’s right, buns. The bun scrambling competition is the final event of the Cheung Chau Bun Festival, an annual event held on the tiny island of Cheung Chau in Hong Kong. After the individual competition, several teams will take part in a relay.These days, the buns attached to the tower are made of plastic, but that doesn’t take away from the excitement of the event.

While the bun scrambling competition attracts the most media attention, there are also exhibits, opera performances and a parade with lion dances and children dressed in colorful costumes. And of course, plenty of buns to feast on! In keeping with the spirit of the festival, here are some Chinese bun recipes for you to try:

• Char Siu Bao (Chinese Steamed Pork Buns)
• Cocktail Buns (Coconut Buns)
• Flower Rolls (Hua Juan)

_{Bun scrambling competitor photo by MN Chan, Stringer/Getty Images News, licensed to About.com, Inc}