This type of cake, also referred to as "dry cake" (shaobing), has no filling and is round in shape, about 12 centimeters in diameter and 2 centimeters thick. It is smooth yellow, covered with sesame seeds.

It is served cold with a soft inside and a sweet, crispy taste that can last a long time. Local people eat it as a snack and a main food on trips. It is also an ideal gift for friends.

The cake dates back to the last years of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), when it could be found in as the cities of Beijing, Tianjin, Xi’an, Lanzou, Baotou, and Zhangjiakou.