As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, Beijing’s residents are flocking to historic bakeries to savor freshly baked traditional Jing-style mooncakes, with one century-old shop drawing crowds by showcasing time-honored techniques and offering hands-on cultural experiences to keep the city’s culinary heritage alive.
At the heart of the festivities, a renowned bakery with over 130 years of history, Beijing Daoxiangcun, is captivating locals and tourists alike at its Longfusi Street branch.
Here, skilled artisans craft mooncakes on-site, baking them fresh to preserve their authentic flavors without additives.
The shop also displays traditional pastry molds and intricate cake models that highlight the ancient art of layered puff pastry, while offering interactive tea-brewing sessions rooted in Chinese cultural aesthetics to engage younger generations in the rich history of Jing-style mooncakes.
Beijing locals are embracing the tradition with enthusiasm.
Many, like one resident, prioritize the freshness of these handcrafted treats, selecting an array of flavors to share with family and friends under the full moon.
Others, such as another local whose parents remain loyal to classic varieties like zilaihong and zilaibai mooncakes, uphold long-standing family customs that anchor the festival’s celebrations.
The bakery’s commitment to craftsmanship shines through in its labor-intensive methods, particularly for zilaihong mooncakes, which demand hand-mixing to achieve the perfect texture and granularity of fillings—a process machines cannot replicate.
This dedication to quality has preserved a master-apprentice system to pass down skills across generations.
Another standout, the fanmao mooncake, said to be named by Empress Dowager Cixi, boasts dozens of flaky layers that yield a delightfully crisp texture, making it a favorite among Beijingers and visitors.
Supported by a 2025 Dongcheng District grant for revitalizing intangible cultural heritage, the bakery’s Qianmen branch features an exhibition hall where visitors can explore the artistry behind Jing-style mooncakes and other pastries.
These efforts not only celebrate Beijing’s culinary legacy but also ensure its traditions endure, blending nostalgia with fresh appeal as families gather to mark the Mid-Autumn Festival with moonlit feasts.
