Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, inspected Lanzhou, the capital city of northwest China's Gansu Province, on Wednesday.
During the inspection in the city, Xi visited a local residential community and a section of the Yellow River, where he learned about the local government's measures to improve public services, enhance the well-being of the people, strengthen comprehensive public security maintenance, and promote ecological conservation in the Yellow River basin.
Lanzhou, a city built along the banks of the Yellow River, lies in the upper reaches of the river.
Xi inspects Lanzhou in northwest China's Gansu Province
Xi inspects Lanzhou in northwest China's Gansu Province
Xi inspects Lanzhou in northwest China's Gansu Province
Bakers in San Francisco's Chinatown have been adding some new twists to traditional Chinese mooncakes to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on Sept 17 this year.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated on the night when the moon reaches its fullest and brightest on the 15th day of the eighth month on the lunar calendar. Sharing mooncakes, a classic Chinese baked pastry that symbolizes family reunions during the harvest season, with loved ones is an important part of the festival celebrations.
The iCake Bakery in the heart of the city's Chinatown is especially busy at this time of year. This year, the bakery owner Hannah Zhang invited Judy Lee, the vice president of the San Francisco Chinese Chamber of Commerce, to make mooncakes.
"So we have here a black sesame filling. It's one of the most unique flavors we have at iCafe. And now we're going to put in an egg yolk," said Lee, translating for Zhang.
Just around the corner at the AA Cafe, owner Henry Chen has also been experimenting with some new twists on the classic treat.
"We have a lot of different [flavors], like the date, melon, pineapple, strawberry, mango and seasoned nuts," said Chen.
Visitors to San Francisco's Chinatown can find all sorts of mooncakes, especially in the months leading up to the Mid-Autumn Festival. Whether it is a traditional or modern variety, it is a way to connect with a tradition that stretches back more than a thousand years and to remind people what the historic Chinatown community has to offer.
"In the spirit of the Moon Festival, it gives us another reason to gather with our friends and family to attract people who've never been to San Francisco's Chinatown and see why there's so much preservation here. It is the oldest Chinatown in the nation still," said Lee.
Bakers in San Francisco offer new treats for mooncake lovers for Mid-Autumn Festival
