Villagers in Guizhou make sticky rice cakes ahead of Chinese New Year

In Jiangkou County, Guizhou Province, making sticky rice cakes is a cherished Chinese New Year tradition that brings families and communities together. Early in the morning, smoke rises from courtyards as residents come together to celebrate. Sticky white rice balls are rolled in bowls of red glutinous rice for a festive coating.

Li Yuanzhen, a resident of Yanxi Village in Jiangkou, said "Red sticky rice cakes symbolize good fortune. Every household makes them for the Chinese New Year. This year, we're preparing over 30 kilograms of rice cake, wishing for a year as vibrant and sweet as these cakes."

The process of pounding sticky rice into cakes is an age-old custom. Teams of villagers work together and rhythmically swing wooden mallets, a display of teamwork and precision. This practice preserves the region's cultural heritage and fosters warmth, unity and festive spirit.