Workers are busy making mooncakes in Changjing town, Jiangyin on Sept 11. [Photo/IC]

Many local residents in Changjing town, Jiangyin, a county-level city in Wuxi, have been busy making Changjing-style mooncakes recently.

The mooncake is a traditional dessert that celebrates the Mid-Autumn Festival. The full moon symbolizes harmony and family reunions, as does a round mooncake.

Changjing-style mooncakes originated more than hundreds of years ago. They are known for their layers of flaky dough and generous allotment of fillings. Changjing-style mooncakes feature both sweet and salty variations. Common sweet fillings include roasted black sesame, various nuts, and red beans. Salty versions are served hot and are usually filled with pork mince mixed with spiced salt and scallion oil.

Although no one really knows when mooncakes with pork were first introduced, they have become so popular around the Yangtze River Delta region that major cities in the area claim they are indigenous. This curious little round pastry is made from a flaky wrap that encloses a ground pork filling made with aromatic seasonings, tasting almost like a meatball.

The skills used making Changjing-style mooncakes have been recognized as a municipal intangible culture heritage item in Jiangyin.