Rows of niangao are neatly placed on the workbench to cool down. [Photo/Tide News]

As winter sets in, Shaoxing is seeing a surge in demand for niangao, or sticky rice cake. The water-milled niangao shop in Fang'ao village, Fusheng town, Yuecheng district, was bustling on Jan 14, with owner Tao Chengtu hard at work. The hum of machinery blended with the aroma of glutinous rice throughout the shop.

The long-running shop adheres to the traditional water-milling method. Soaked glutinous rice is ground into slurry, pressed into shape, and then steamed and cooled. The resulting niangao is soft, chewy, and rich with the fragrance of rice — making it a beloved winter treat for locals.

With Spring Festival approaching, orders at the shop have multiplied, far exceeding usual levels. Tao starts his day well before dawn, yet still struggles to keep up with the high demand.