The 28th day of La Yue: Kneading dough, making cake

[Photo/CGTN]

With the meat dish cooked, people would traditionally begin preparing staples for the upcoming Spring Festival. Since food crops differ between Chinese regions – wheat in the North and rice in the South, the dishes are naturally different. Northerners would knead the dough to make steamed buns, while Southerners pound glutinous rice to steam "year cake" or niangao.

The 29th day of La Yue: Honoring ancestors

[Photo/CGTN]

One day before Spring Festival Eve, people sweep the tombs of deceased family members and burn incense and joss paper at the front doors of their houses to show respect for the ancestors and invite their spirits to spend the night.