During Spring Festival, the must-have treats of Guangzhou — oil dumplings, fried cakes and egg crisps — are more than representative of Xiguan gift cakes. They are symbols of luck, prosperity and the enduring ties of family, offering a taste of tradition and hope for the future.

Guangzhou folk expert Rao Yuansheng explains that fried cakes symbolize wealth and prosperity. Made from corn, sesame and peanuts, they also reflect hope for a bountiful harvest, especially during difficult times when food scarcity was a concern.

Rao also discusses oil dumplings, which have two meanings. Their pouch-like shape symbolizes prosperity, while another interpretation links them to ancestor worship. Originally a northern tradition, migrants brought the custom of making dumplings for the Chinese New Year to Guangdong, adapting it with oil as a local twist.

Spring Festival is China's most important traditional holiday. It serves as an invisible thread connecting people from all corners of the country to their hometowns, who head home for family reunions.

Central to this reunion are foods that carry memories and blessings, each region offering its own unique "food story". These foods are more than just holiday staples; they are a living expression of Chinese culture.