12,300 revellers brave heat for buns, fish balls, Ne Zha at Hong Kong Cheung Chau festival

Thousands of Hongkongers and tourists have flocked to Cheung Chau for the island’s annual bun festival, and a parade featuring popular film characters and hot topics like scams, with businesses expecting sales growth and overseas market expansions.

Revellers set out on their journeys early on Monday. Shortly before 9am, the Central pier announced that the fast ferry was fully boarded, as dozens of tourists waited there.

The Cheung Chau Bun Festival, also known as Cheung Chau Da Jiu Festival, falls each year on Buddha’s Birthday.

This year, the date coincided with the last day of the Labour Day “golden week” holiday.

Participants are advised to brace for scorching sunshine and stuffy heat, as the mercury on Cheung Chau already rose to 28 degrees Celsius (82.4 Fahrenheit) after 9am, according to the Hong Kong Observatory.

Among early birds heading to the island is clerk Terry Chan, 40, who is travelling with her five-year-old daughter.