Ningbo village filled with Spring Festival vibes

An artisan carves the Chinese character fu (meaning happiness) on red plates in Hehong village of Ningbo, Zhejiang province, on Saturday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

With the fast approaching of the Spring Festival, or Lunar New Year, Hehong village in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, has offered fun for residents and visitors with a collection of traditional activities.

Home to more than 50 residents of age 80 and above, Hehong village in Ninghai county has been billed as the city's "longevity village". With a 1,000-year history, it is also a focal point for traditional Chinese culture and food. Changshougao, or longevity cake, a glutinous rice delicacy, is a specialty.

To celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival, which falls on Jan 22 this year, preparing traditional food, writing spring festival couplets and creating paper-cut art, were all seen on Saturday in the village, among other activities.

A resident of Hehong village in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, steams changshougao (longevity cake) for visitors on Saturday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A paper-cutter displays artwork featuring the Chinese character shou (longevity) in Hehong village of Ningbo, Zhejiang province, on Saturday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A resident prepares dough for maci, a glutinous rice delicacy, in Hehong village of Ningbo, Zhejiang province, on Saturday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Yu Yin in Ningbo contributed to this story.