National treasures meet Jinyun shaobing

Jinyun shaobing shows bronze animal-head patterns. [Photo/Tide News]

A creative crossover at the Zhejiang Provincial Museum has turned national treasures into edible culture — by imprinting bronze animal-head patterns onto Jinyun shaobing (a bucket-baked roll), a national intangible heritage snack.

The museum is hosting a special exhibition that is drawing large crowds. The four original Old Summer Palace bronze animal heads, rarely loaned from the Beijing Poly Art Museum, are now on display together in Zhejiang, making this a rare opportunity.

At the museum's basement-level food court, visitors flock to the Jinyun shaobing stall to get the patterned cakes. The golden, crispy surfaces clearly show patterns of animal heads.

The collaboration was initiated by Tian Kaiyao, a Jinyun shaobing master whose shop has been in the museum since the cultural center opened. Inspired by cultural creative products, she and her team designed simplified line drawings based on photos of the animal heads.

However, the traditional oven-baking process alters the dough's color, so numerous trials were needed to ensure the patterns remained clear after baking.

Tian said that many visitors are trying Jinyun shaobing for the first time. She hopes this partnership will boost brand recognition and draw in a younger crowd, helping this intangible cultural heritage gain wider popularity.