On the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival, a mooncake & tea making activity was held in South Campus of Guangdong Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT). Chinese and international students and faculty gathered to make Chaoshan-style mooncakes with red peach rice cake molds and craft Phoenix Dancong tea, immersing themselves in the unique charm of Chaoshan culture.

Chaoshan-style mooncakes, also known as “lao bing,” are a signature local pastry and one of China’s four major mooncake styles. Zheng Guanhong, a municipal-level inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage, introduced the mooncakes’ history and demonstrated how they were made.

Participants washed their hands and eagerly rolled out the dough, filled it with salted-egg-yolk and lotus-seed filling, dusted it with flour, and pressed the cakes into molds. The event innovatively used peach rice cake molds – a fusion of auspicious Chaoshan symbolism with the Mid-Autumn tradition. With guidance from pastry chefs, well-patterned mooncakes took shape in their hands.

During the baking time of the mooncakes, Lin Haisen, an inheritor of Phoenix Dancong tea craftsmanship, showcased the full process. Each step followed traditional methods, embodying centuries of dedication and wisdom from Chaoshan tea masters. Attendees tried their hand at rolling the fresh leaves, getting a taste of this ancient craft.

“This is my first time making mooncakes, and Chaoshan-style ones are truly delicious,” said Eli Aljadeff, Vice Chancellor of GTIIT, who had also joined GTIIT’s Dragon Boat Festival zongzi-making activity. GTIIT Pro-Vice Chancellor and Director General Rami Horesh joked, “I just got back from the gym, and rolling the tea felt like another arm workout,” adding that he truly appreciated the strength, precision, and patience the craft demands.

For local students like Xiao Xinyu, a third-year student, it was equally special. “As a local, I drink Dancong tea all the time, but this is my first time making it myself. I really appreciate GTIIT organizing this.”

This evening, faculty and students learned traditional crafts together, bridging cultures while bringing Chaoshan’s intangible heritage to life on this diverse campus.

Text/Video: GTIIT News & Public Affairs

Photos: Yu Dongshi, Deng Haoyu, Yin Qixiang, GTIIT News & Public Affairs