Spring Festival Traditions: Centuries-old customs kept alive in SE China

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02:23

As modernization rolls on in China, some of its age-old traditions and customs still stand the test of time. In particular, food and drink. CGTN's Yang Chengxi travels to eastern China to sample the pastries and a very special tea.

The Southeastern Chinese town of Tangxi has all the makings of a popular tourist destination. Picturesque buildings, lush landscapes, a 500-year-old bridge over a canal that flows all the way north to Beijing.

YANG CHENGXI HANGZHOU "Residents and tourists both detest that the influx of modern brands here has dampened the area's authentic identity. But you can always find little gems of Chinese tradition here, if you look closely enough."

The local technique of making these pastries hasn't changed for over two centuries.

YU MING, FOUNDER BAINIAN HUICHANG "It's our custom to enjoy such pastries at special occasions, like when we start school, marry or have kids. Also, we use specific pastry molds for different events."

Local resident Yu Ming heads one of the pastry factories here. His passion? Collecting different mold. Some are over 100 years old.

YU MING, FOUNDER BAINIAN HUICHANG "In the past, almost every family here had one of these. But as more and more of them move into big cities, they tend to throw the molds away. I purchased a lot of them."

Most of them are hand-carved, a technique that's gotten lost in the 21st century due to machinery. Other traditions are also alive and well in this region, like with their favorite tea.

JI PING, PARTY SECRETARY PUNING VILLAGE COMMUNIST PARTY COMMITTEE "Apart from tea leaves, we add in green peas, dried carrots, orange peel, wild sesame, dried bamboo shoots as well as peanuts."

YANG CHENGXI HANGZHOU "That mixture of different ingredients created a very special kind of taste. You wouldn't expect tea to be salty, but it's quite good, to be honest."

This is one of the local's best treats for house guests. As the Spring Festival brings out the very best of China, Tangxi's hospitality is molded and distilled into these ancient traditions. YCX CGTN HZ.