As the Chinese New Year approaches, the people of Yuping Dong Autonomous County have started making various kinds of traditional delicacies for the festival, such as ciba, seasoned pork, sausages and hongba – a type of glutinous rice cake. With its unique red color associated with festivity and good fortune, hongba cakes are especially popular with the Dong people.

A villager makes hongba, a type of glutinous rice cake, for the upcoming Chinese New Year at Baiguo Village in Yuping Dong Autonomous County, Guizhou Province. /Photo provided to CGTN

A villager makes hongba, a type of glutinous rice cake, for the upcoming Chinese New Year at Baiguo Village in Yuping Dong Autonomous County, Guizhou Province. /Photo provided to CGTN

A villager makes hongba, a type of glutinous rice cake, for the upcoming Chinese New Year at Baiguo Village in Yuping Dong Autonomous County, Guizhou Province. /Photo provided to CGTN

A villager makes hongba, a type of glutinous rice cake, for the upcoming Chinese New Year at Baiguo Village in Yuping Dong Autonomous County, Guizhou Province. /Photo provided to CGTN

A villager makes hongba, a type of glutinous rice cake, for the upcoming Chinese New Year at Baiguo Village in Yuping Dong Autonomous County, Guizhou Province. /Photo provided to CGTN

A villager makes hongba, a type of glutinous rice cake, for the upcoming Chinese New Year at Baiguo Village in Yuping Dong Autonomous County, Guizhou Province. /Photo provided to CGTN

A villager makes hongba, a type of glutinous rice cake, for the upcoming Chinese New Year at Baiguo Village in Yuping Dong Autonomous County, Guizhou Province. /Photo provided to CGTN

A villager makes hongba, a type of glutinous rice cake, for the upcoming Chinese New Year at Baiguo Village in Yuping Dong Autonomous County, Guizhou Province. /Photo provided to CGTN

A villager makes hongba, a type of glutinous rice cake, for the upcoming Chinese New Year at Baiguo Village in Yuping Dong Autonomous County, Guizhou Province. /Photo provided to CGTN

A villager makes hongba, a type of glutinous rice cake, for the upcoming Chinese New Year at Baiguo Village in Yuping Dong Autonomous County, Guizhou Province. /Photo provided to CGTN

A villager makes hongba, a type of glutinous rice cake, for the upcoming Chinese New Year at Baiguo Village in Yuping Dong Autonomous County, Guizhou Province. /Photo provided to CGTN

A villager makes hongba, a type of glutinous rice cake, for the upcoming Chinese New Year at Baiguo Village in Yuping Dong Autonomous County, Guizhou Province. /Photo provided to CGTN

Villagers make hongba, a type of glutinous rice cake, for the upcoming Chinese New Year at Baiguo Village in Yuping Dong Autonomous County, Guizhou Province. /Photo provided to CGTN

Villagers make hongba, a type of glutinous rice cake, for the upcoming Chinese New Year at Baiguo Village in Yuping Dong Autonomous County, Guizhou Province. /Photo provided to CGTN

Making hongba is no easy task. Dong people first mix two different kinds of glutinous rice in a certain ratio and grind them into flour. Before steaming, there are a number of other procedures, including wrapping the dumplings in the dyed glutinous rice.

Hongba, a type of glutinous rice cake, is a popular delicacy with the Dong people of Yuping Dong Autonomous County, Guizhou Province. /Photo provided to CGTN

Hongba, a type of glutinous rice cake, is a popular delicacy with the Dong people of Yuping Dong Autonomous County, Guizhou Province. /Photo provided to CGTN

Hongba, a type of glutinous rice cake, is a popular delicacy with the Dong people of Yuping Dong Autonomous County, Guizhou Province. /Photo provided to CGTN

Hongba, a type of glutinous rice cake, is a popular delicacy with the Dong people of Yuping Dong Autonomous County, Guizhou Province. /Photo provided to CGTN

Hongba, a type of glutinous rice cake, is a popular delicacy with the Dong people of Yuping Dong Autonomous County, Guizhou Province. /Photo provided to CGTN

Hongba, a type of glutinous rice cake, is a popular delicacy with the Dong people of Yuping Dong Autonomous County, Guizhou Province. /Photo provided to CGTN

Villagers showcase hongba, a type of glutinous rice cake, at Baiguo Village in Yuping Dong Autonomous County, Guizhou Province. /Photo provided to CGTN

Villagers showcase hongba, a type of glutinous rice cake, at Baiguo Village in Yuping Dong Autonomous County, Guizhou Province. /Photo provided to CGTN

A villager showcases hongba, a type of glutinous rice cake, at Baiguo Village in Yuping Dong Autonomous County, Guizhou Province. /Photo provided to CGTN

A villager showcases hongba, a type of glutinous rice cake, at Baiguo Village in Yuping Dong Autonomous County, Guizhou Province. /Photo provided to CGTN

As well as the Chinese New Year, hongba is also an essential delicacy for other joyful occasions in Yuping, such as weddings, birthday celebrations for the elderly and one-year-old babies, and house building ceremonies.