Cooks make "Guo Dulin" Shanxi-style mooncakes. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

"Guo Dulin" Shanxi-style mooncakes are an exceptional product that reflects Shanxi's folk culture and customs. Their ancient and simple shape, accompanied by their crisp, mellow, refreshing and sweet (but not greasy) taste, makes these mooncakes a household favorite in Shanxi province.

The skills necessary to create "Guo Dulin" Shanxi-style mooncakes can be traced back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). In the late Qing Dynasty, these pastries became well-known in Jinzhong, Taiyuan, Datong and Linfen cities in the province. They are the most popular festive food for the people in these cities.

The mooncakes are made by hand, and the production methods have been an essential part of Shanxi's cake industry since the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing dynasties. The unique filling process for the cakes is characteristic of North China. 

Due to the agricultural production adjustment in recent years, crops such as small hemp and white wheat have seen a reduction in cultivation and availability, resulting in a lack of raw materials for "Guo Dulin" Shanxi-style mooncakes.

At the same time, due to the limitations of traditional hand-made production techniques and a fading knowledge of festival traditions, expanding the production scale and market of "Guo Dulin" Shanxi-style mooncakes has proven incredibly difficult.