A selection of new mooncakes on display in Taizhou's Jiaojiang district. [Photo/Tide News]

Jiaojiang district in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, has seen an early surge in mooncake sales ahead of Mid-Autumn Festival, with more products adopting slimmer, more environmentally friendly packaging this year. Gift boxes mainly use paper or reusable tin containers, with prices ranging from 99 yuan to 399 yuan ($14.70 to $59.40), while affordable unpackaged mooncakes remain popular.

Mooncakes featuring traditional Chinese medicinal ingredients have emerged as a new market trend, with local dessert shops introducing more than 20 varieties, including mooncakes made with huangjing (Chinese Solomon's Seal), dangshen (codonopsis root), and wuhei (Five-Black dietary formula), as well as low-sugar oolong and xiyangshen (American ginseng root).

Local time-honored brands are also introducing new products, including cultural and creative mooncakes featuring Taizhou landmarks. Their packaging uses biodegradable materials, while new mini mooncakes with reduced sugar and oil offer consumers more choices while retaining traditional flavors.