Soft and sweet, glutinous rice cakes are a Spring Festival necessity among residents in Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu province.

Although urbanization has brought many modern resources and procedures to farmers, the traditional way of making rice cakes for the Lunar New Year still exists.

Snack stores and specialty rice cake shops from all over the city are busy making steamy mouth-watering rice cakes, adding to the festive atmosphere.

Workers of one traditional brand in Wuxi are responding to customers' demands as Spring Festival approaches, working hard with the old methods. The Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Feb 5 this year.

Workers make rice cakes of a traditional brand in Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu province, Jan 30. [Photo/Xinhua]

In Wuxi, it is an old tradition to eat rice cakes during Spring Festival. [Photo/Xinhua]

What makes a rice cake so tasty is not only the high-quality flour or ingredients, but also the technique. Kneading is the key. One must knead the dough with strength, or it will not become pliable and the cakes will be less chewy. [Photo/Xinhua]

Workers in Wuxi are busy making rice cakes to fulfill customers' growing demands as Spring Festival approaches. [Photo/Xinhua]