HONG KONG, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Children dressed in dazzling costumes "float" in mid-air, with some perched on a banana leaf, others seated in a boat drifting through a "lake". They remained composed as they moved gracefully amid the cheers and gasps of the crowd.
This is not an acrobatics show but "piu sik" parade, the grand highlight of the annual Bun Festival in Cheung Chau, a small island south of Hong Kong.
With a history spanning more than a century, the Bun Festival, one of Hong Kong's most vibrant cultural traditions, was inscribed on China's national intangible cultural heritage list in 2011.
This year's festivities took place from May 2 to 6, with the highly anticipated "piu sik" parade held on Monday, attracting tens of thousands of visitors, including tourists from the Chinese mainland and overseas.
A joyful and festive atmosphere enveloped this small island, just an hour's ferry ride from Hong Kong Island.
At 1:30 p.m. local time, accompanied by the rhythmic beats of gongs and drums, 22 parade teams set off from the Pak Tai Temple Playground. Young performers in themed costumes waved to enthusiastic onlookers and handed out candy.
A young performer, dressed in a costume inspired by the Chinese animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2", stole the spotlight in the parade, drawing enthusiastic cheers from the crowd.
"Ne Zha 2" told the story of the iconic character Nezha, a rebellious boy-god from Chinese mythology.
Ms Zhou, a tourist from Tianjin, north China, eagerly interacted with the parade. "This is my first time watching a parade that blends local cultural elements and folk arts. You can feel the collective effort of residents in Cheung Chau," she said.
At 60 years old, Lee Chi Wai has dedicated over thirty years to the art of "piu sik" parade. Born and raised in Cheung Chau, he has been involved in the parade since childhood.
Lee's childhood parades sparked his passion for "piu sik," leading him to apprentice under a master craftsman to refine his skills.
From conceptualizing the theme to casting, each "piu sik" parade required three to four months of work. Lee began preparations for this year's parade in February and completed the work in April.
Lee preferred to incorporate mining themes from traditional Chinese folklore into the parade.
When choosing a theme for the parade, Lee prefers to extract elements from traditional Chinese culture. The Nezha figure featured in this year's parade was a perfect example. He hoped the Ne Zha theme would help to spread Chinese cultural heritage to more people.
Lee noted that beyond age, weight, and height requirements, children performing in the parade must also be fearless and confident. He and other master craftsmen visited kindergartens and after-school programs across Cheung Chau to select potential young performers.
"My daughter used to perform in the parade, and now my granddaughter is equally enthusiastic. She looked forward to portraying different roles each year," said longtime Cheung Chau resident Mr. Chan.
Chan said that the Bun Festival provided a platform for more people to learn about the island's rich traditions. "Only through active participation can we ensure its continued legacy," he said.
In the "piu sik" parade, children dressed up as different characters paraded on stilts. The craft of building the stilts has been lost over time, and among the remaining master craftsmen, Lee was the youngest.
"I'll keep practicing this craft as long as I can. If one day I can no longer work with my hands, I'll still sit here and teach others, doing my part to keep this folk art alive," Lee said. ■
