The kneaded dough is pressed into wooden molds, creating different shapes of qiaoguo. [Photo/WeChat account: hyzcnews]

Every Qixi Festival, the warm, sweet scent of freshly baked qiaoguo fills homes across Yantai. These traditional pastries are more than just a holiday treat — they carry wishes for safety, happiness, and prosperity.

Making qiaoguo is a hands-on family affair. Flour, eggs, and sugar are mixed into a soft dough and left to rise. Once ready, the dough is kneaded, rolled into small pieces, and pressed into carved wooden molds. With a firm press and a gentle tap, each piece emerges in charming shapes — fish, flowers, peaches, and more. Each design tells a story: fish symbolizes abundance, flowers represent honor and good fortune.

After a short rest, the pastries are baked until golden. About 10 minutes later, they come out slightly puffed, with a crisp exterior and a soft, fragrant center — simple, satisfying, and full of warmth.

For many locals, qiaoguo is woven into childhood memories of Qixi. Grandmothers and mothers would make basketfuls of them, then string them with red thread for children to wear around their necks like necklaces. Snacking and playing at the same time — that was the magic of the festival.

More than just a traditional treat, qiaoguo carries wishes for family happiness and reflects a culinary tradition passed down through generations.