Workers in a food company in Shanxi province make items out of dough – a traditional custom for the Chinese Spring Festival - on Jan. 8. Food companies in the province are busy making dough to meet the demand ahead of the holiday.(Photo/Xinhua)

The making of dough figurines, a traditional craftsmanship, has a rich cultural tradition of thousands of years, and it was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2008. Made mainly from flour, the colorful dough serves as the main food for Wenxi locals after being steamed. Dough figurines, though created with ordinary tools like scissors, combs and kitchen knives, are of vital importance in big rituals in the county. They appear as essential articles of tribute in local festivals, weddings and birthday banquets.

Edited by Niva Whyman