Workers at Laowanhe Linzi rice cake store grind rice into flour. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

As the Lunar New Year approaches, each family in China is busy with Spring Festival shopping. The Linzi rice cake is a must-eat snack for residents of Rugao, Nantong, during the festival.

Rice flour is steamed on steamers. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

Among Linzi rice cake makers, Laowanhe, with a history of nearly 300 years, is the most famous. The brand has been recognized as a Chinese time-honored brand, and its preparation technique has been selected as a Nantong intangible cultural heritage item.

Laowanhe's Linzi rice cake is made of non-glutinous rice flour which is ground from rice after being soaked for one week, sweet-scented osmanthus, and white sugar.

The freshly-made Laowanhe rice exudes a strong fragrance of sweet-scented osmanthus and tastes soft and sweet.

Freshly-made Linzi rice cakes painted with patterns are left to cool. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

According to Wang Jiacheng, sales manager at the Laowanhe rice cake store, their store can sell more than 2,000 rice cakes per day in the days following New Year's Day, four times more than usual.

In order to preserve and further promote the classic Rugao flavor, Laowanhe has also established a learning base in the city to teach more people how to make Linzi rice cakes using traditional techniques.