Representatives from Jinhua perform the traditional ceremony of offering painted mooncakes to the moon at the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum in Beijing. [Photo/Tide News]
The traditional ceremony of offering painted mooncakes to the moon from Jinhua, Zhejiang province, was performed at the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum in Beijing amid Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations on the evening of Sept 17.
Dating back 800 years to the Song Dynasty (960-1279), the people of Wuzhou (the ancient name of Jinhua) celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival by offering painted mooncakes to the moon in hopes of receiving good fortune in return. Unlike traditional mooncakes, Wu-style mooncakes are steamed using rice flour and adorned with paintings created using natural pigments.
During the performance on Sept 17, accompanied by the soothing melodies of guqin music from Pujiang county, attendees were immersed in Jinhua's cultural heritage. They witnessed Lou Hongliang, the inheritor of Wu-style traditional pastry-making techniques, crafting mooncakes, while artist Lu Guofei embellished them with symbols of Jinhua, such as the Wanfo Pagoda.
The performance drew crowds of visitors, offering them a glimpse into the ancient traditions and customs that have shaped Jinhua for centuries.
