A basket of Wudian steamed buns is stamped with the Chinese character "fu", which means good fortune. [Photo/yw.gov.cn]

Wudian steamed bun, a popular choice among locals in Yiwu during the Spring Festival, has seen booming sales in recent days as the festival approaches.

Heshi village, located in Shangxi town, Yiwu, is the main producer of Wudian steamed buns. People living in Yiwu and neighboring areas have a tradition of eating the specialty during traditional festivals such as the Spring Festival, Lantern Festival, and Dragon Boat Festival, as well as at weddings and birthdays.

In April 2009, the Wudian steamed bun production techniques were included in the third representative list of intangible cultural heritage items in Yiwu.

Wu Genlu, a native of Heshi village, Shangxi town, Yiwu, is one of three shopkeepers who sell Wudian steamed buns in Heshi village.

The purely handmade Wudian steamed buns boast exquisite craftsmanship. Wu and his wife often use polished glutinous rice to make sweet wine, and use the fermented water of sweet wine as a blending agent for dough and a starter for steamed buns. The amount of fermented water also determines the daily output of steamed buns.

Every year from the twelfth lunar month to the sixth day of the first month of the new year, the daily output of Wudian steamed buns is about 100,000 pairs (200,000 pieces), and they are often out of stock.

Wudian steamed buns are piled up in Heshi village, Shangxi town, Yiwu. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

A girl bites into a Wudian steamed bun. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]