Eating mooncakes is one of the most traditional ways for Chinese people to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on Monday.
But have you ever thought about turning the festive snack into a work of art?
Dough sculpting allows you to unleash your creativity and make mooncakes that are deliciously appealing to look at.
Written records on Chinese dough sculptures date back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC- 220 AD). Skilled artists – using dough made from rice and wheat, scissors, small knives, and pigment – have long created vivid sculptures ranging from animals to historical human figures.
Dough sculptures of mooncakes made by Hou Deqiang. /CGTN Photo
"Traditionally the materials for dough sculptures mainly include wheat flour, glutinous rice flour and honey. The last two have a preservative effect," Hou Deqiang, who has made dough sculptures for almost two decades, told CGTN during an interview at his workshop in northwestern Beijing.
"In my works, I add white sugar and glycerol so that the dough becomes more elastic and the sculptures can be preserved longer," he further explained.
Hou Deqiang makes mooncake-shaped dough sculptures at his workshop in northwestern Beijing. /CGTN Photo
As he worked the dough, Hou explained the secret behind a perfect mixture.
After mixing all the materials into a round cake, the cake must be steamed for 30 minutes. It should then be kneaded into a ball while it's still hot and left to dry for seven to ten days. This way, the dough can be flexible and tender enough for sculpting.
"Every dough sculptor should be very sensitive to the humidity of the dough as the humidity of wheat flour and glutinous rice flour varies in different seasons," he added.
Mooncake-shaped dough sculptures made by Hou Deqiang. /CGTN Photo
It's a relatively easy procedure after the preparation work is done. Some basic art knowledge is, of course, necessary to ensure beautifully carved designs.
It takes Hou about ten minutes to finish a mooncake sculpture. While new learners may spend half an hour or even longer, "most of them can manage to make one after the first lesson," said Hou.
Mooncake-shaped dough sculptures made by Hou Deqiang. /CGTN Photo
The mooncake sculptures made by Hou can be kept for several years, although it's a pity they can't be eaten.
"I've noticed that many people, especially young people, are interested in Chinese dough sculptures and traditional Chinese culture. I do hope this art can become more and more popular," Hou told CGTN.
(Video by Jiang Yuting and Liang Si. Original cover photo provided by Hou Deqiang and redesigned by Yin Yating.)
(Ai Yan also contributed to the story.)