Cheung Chau, Hong Kong
My Bun Math for the Cheung Chau Bun Scramble
Climbers get three minutes on a tower of 9,000 buns, and the higher the bun, the more points it's worth. I did the math.
Just after midnight on Cheung Chau island, 12 finalists climbed a 14-metre tower covered in 9,000 plastic buns. Each had three minutes to grab buns and get back down, and the higher the bun, the more points it’s worth. I studied the numbers.
My Math
Plan A. Climb straight to the top, grab the most valuable buns and come down a hero. Time needed: about nine minutes. Time allowed: three. Problem.
Plan B. Stay at the bottom, where the buns are worth the least, and grab them very fast. Points: some. Dignity: medium.
Plan C. Climb halfway and grab the middle buns. Problem: halfway up, I like to stop and enjoy the view, and the view is lovely.
Plan D. Bring my own buns from the bakery and count them. Problem: not allowed. Also, they were already eaten.
The Answer
All the plans have the same problem, which is that the clock gives you three minutes and the tower is 14 metres tall. The champions climb it like it’s a staircase. I’m a staircase person.
So I did one more piece of math. The best buns on Cheung Chau aren’t on the tower, because those are plastic. The best ones are in the bakeries, fresh, warm and stamped in red for luck.
They’re worth more to me than anything on the tower, and you don’t have to climb anything. I had four. That’s my score, and I’m very happy with it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why plastic buns?
They replaced the real ones years ago, for hygiene. Plastic buns last longer. Real buns don't, around me.
Is there a prize for the most buns?
Yes, for the most buns of any kind. This year's winner grabbed 177. My record is four, but mine were edible.