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People present incense to pray for good fortune during the Cheung Chau Bun Festival on the island of Cheung Chau in Hong Kong, south China, May 6, 2014. The annual Cheung Chau Bun Festival was held here on Tuesday to placate the hungry ghosts of old pirates. Legend has it that buns bring good luck to the island's fisherman protecting them from the spirits of pirates that once lurked in the region. [Photo: Xinhua]
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To ensure the safety of participants and spectators, the towers are now made of steel, covered with bamboo scaffolding. Prospective bun-climbers must take a training course to learn basic climbing skills. At the end of the training period, twelve finalists are chosen to compete in the bun competition. Following the individual race, several teams compete in a relay.
Beginning in 2007, replica buns have been used in the bun scrambling competition. This is to ensure safety, as real buns can become slippery in wet weather. However, festival-goers can still collect buns from the three main bun towers.
The event has become a major attraction for thousands of visitors from Hong Kong and elsewhere. In 2012, some 70,000 visitors joined the island's population of 30,000 during the festival.
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