Traditional moon cakes fresh out the oven. [Photo/lanzhou.gogansu.com]

As Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, various pasta shops in Yuzhong county, Lanzhou city, have gotten busy making traditional handmade moon cakes.

Walking into the Haoyan Steamed Bread Shop in Jinya town, Yuzhong county, you can smell the strong aroma of sesame oil, rose extract, and fragrant beans.

Li Haoyan makes traditional moon cakes by hand. [Photo/lanzhou.gogansu.com]

In addition to the prepared dough, the chopping board is covered with rich condiments, such as fried flax, turmeric, and white sugar. 

The shopkeeper Li Haoyan started by kneading the dough, then spreading the stuffing, before rolling the dough and slicing it. 

After just over an hour, the fresh and delicious moon cakes came out of the oven. 

Take a bite of the soft and glutinous delicacy, you won’t regret it.

Traditional moon cakes split apart [Photo/lanzhou.gogansu.com]

According to Li, with the most simple ingredients and the most traditional craftsmanship, these handmade moon cakes fully inflate  and bloom like roses. This signature moon cake has attracted countless people to make reservations in advance.

"In the last few years, with the development of rural tourism in Jinya town, my life has gotten better and better. Every year, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, many people come to order moon cakes. My cake shop is getting busier, and my income higher and higher." Li added.