Bamboo scaffolding is used widely on festival grounds. They are used in temporary structures which are erected quickly for a specific festival and then dismantled quickly when the festival is over. Often, scaffolding is used to build sheds to provide a sheltered space. In the old days, the bamboo frame would be clad with palm leaves, canvas or rattan mats, thus the name “matshed”. These, however, are highly inflammable, and today, more fire-resistant thin steel sheets are usually used. However, sometimes the term “matshed” is still used.

Opera Theatre sheds
During many festivals, opera is performed, and sheds are built as temporary theatres. Some of the theatre sheds are extremely large, with complex structures. The stage is also built on a bamboo platform.

Other sheds
Besides theatres, “matsheds” are built for other purposes as well, e.g. to house the paper images or statues of gods, and other ritual objects. Some sheds are for priests when reading or chanting prayers.

Bun towers at Cheung Chau Bun Festival
One of the highlights of the Bun Festival is the bun tower. The skeleton of the tower is made of bamboo and can be over 50 feet high. Scaffolding is built around the tower to enable workers to wrap a coating around the skeleton and to hang buns on it.