A piece of work of Heyang Miandian on exhibition, in Pingyao county, Feb 11 [Photo/cnwest.com]

There was a special Chinese New Year display of Heyang Mianhua, a traditional pastry from Heyang county, Shaanxi province, on Feb 11, in Pingyao county, in nearby Shanxi province, with other popular traditional Chinese foods from other parts of China.

Heyang Mianhua, is part of the local intangible cultural heritage dating back to the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), and proved to be the most popular item in the display, drawing the largest crowds of visitors. It comes in a number of shapes, often taking the form of a bird, fish, flower, or other plants and can be prepared for weddings, birthdays, baby showers, traditional rites, or festivals and can be quite delicate, bright in color, and a figment of the baker's magination.

Cao Fangxia (second from the left) is making the pastry while being interviewed by the Shanxi TV Station, Feb 11 [Photo/cnwest.com]

Cao Fangxia, one cook from Heyang who took part in a steamed bun competition at the display, surprised visitors with her skills and a masterpiece that attracted all the media to snap photos or talk with her. One Pingyao tourist bureau official and festival organizer called it a good opportunity for the folk craft to go global.

The stated purpose of this Pingyao Chinese New Year event is to continue Chinese customs and folk culture, which developed out of the local Spring ritual into a modern celebration and a famous tourism brand. It now includes exhibitions, entertainment, live performances, and a lucky draw where visitors can test their luck for the New Year. And, it keeps growing in size and gets more engaging and creative every year.

Foreign visitors take pictures of the traditional desserts at the exhibition, Feb 11. [Photo/cnwest.com]

The event, which runs from Dec 23 to Jan 16 on the lunar calendar, has been carried by China Central TV, Beijing TV, and many other channels and newspapers in Shanxi province, as well as Sohu.com's travel column.