With the traditional Dragon Boat Festival around the corner, residents of Yongquan Town in Tongling, Anhui are busy making traditional mung bean cakes. Steam mung beans, grind them into fine powder, add sesame oil, and press the mixture into molds. A soft and sweet delicacy with a refreshing fragrance is created and has been cherished for thousands of years. It serves not only as a remedy for summer heat but also as a cultural symbol of warding off evil and inviting good fortune. Today the mung bean cake carries unique festival memory and has become a beloved Chinese pastry popular among all ages.

(Authors: Hong Min, Lu Changjiang)