Mooncakes inspired by the Pujiang bench dragon are launched in Jinhua's Pujiang county. [Photo/Tide News]

As Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, a unique line of mooncakes inspired by the Pujiang bench dragon — a national intangible cultural heritage from Pujiang county, Jinhua, Zhejiang province — was launched at the Pujiang Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum on Sept 7.

Recognized by UNESCO in 2024, the Pujiang bench dragon is a symbolic folk art combining crafting, painting, paper-cutting, and performing. It stands as a significant cultural emblem of the region.

Two innovative mooncake gift boxes have been introduced, incorporating classic dragon head and body motifs and traditional dragon dance formations into the designs of both the mooncakes and their packaging.

Notably, the "Family Harmony and Reunion" rice mooncake uses medicinal ingredients, crafted following ancient Pujiang recipes to capture the traditional Song Dynasty (960-1279) flavors. The other is a Cantonese-style mooncake, featuring illustrations of the bench dragon parade, with its long, winding form through ancient architecture.

In addition to the mooncakes, the museum has released over 10 bench dragon-themed cultural products, such as fridge magnets, phone chains, sachets, and hairpins. These efforts aim to integrate Pujiang's intangible cultural heritage into daily life, presenting traditional customs in a youthful, accessible manner.