An annual chili pepper festival kicked off Monday in central China's spice-loving Hunan province with a chili-eating contest in which the winner set a blistering pace by downing a gut-busting 50 peppers in just over a minute. With doctors on hand just in case, 10 contestants each held plates heaped with 50 Tabasco chili peppers, racing to be the first to finish. The festival lasts until the end of August, with a fresh chili-eating contest held daily.