Full coverage: Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival
Mooncakes are a must-have during the Mid-Autumn festival. Few workshops today still make these pastries by hand. CCTV's Ning Hong visited one mooncake shop in Xuanhua, Hebei province, where mooncakes have been made the same way for centuries.
In the old town of Xuanhua, workers in Xin Fuyuan Pastry are busy churning out the last batch of mooncakes – just in time for the Mid-Autumn Festival.
From the selection of fillings to the final decorations, these pastries are all painstakingly handmade. And this tradition has been passed down from generation to generation for two hundred years.
83-year-old Wang Jiuzhou learnt the art of mooncake making from his grandfather when he was twelve. At that time, his family had already been in the business for six generations.
"There are twelve steps to make a mooncake. For example, the peanuts need to be picked, baked, peeled and so on -- that’s already five steps," said Wang Jiuzhou, mooncake chef.
In China, most mooncakes contain a filling of peanuts, sesame seeds and Chinese dates. But Wang uses siritch, a type of oil which has a long history among the Muslim Chinese living in Northern China.
During Mid Autumn Festival, a family reunion is most important. People have been trying to find meaningful ways to spend the festival. And there is always the option of sharing a moon-cake with your family.
Wang has his own mooncake-making process, and he calls the process the traditional methods. And this one and a half kilo mooncake is his creation.
"Since I was ten, I have been making mooncakes this small. The process has been changed six times. Now, this mooncake is unique and easy to make. And it looks better. I say, why not? You need to be creative," Wang said.
This creation is named “Reunion”, and is only available for sale a few days before the Mid-Autumn Day. Many locals line up just to get their hands on one.
Wang’s mooncake has become a shared memory for many people who live in the old town of Xuanhua. Now his grandson has taken up the mantle, and has become his apprentice.
"I want to go on making good mooncakes for people living in the old town. And we will never sell it at high prices," Wang said.
There are nearly a hundred different types of mooncakes here. Over a thousand are sold before the festival. And no doubt, in this town, it is the handmade mooncakes that pull a family together.
