The ever-present mooncakes that are a key part of China's Mid-Autumn festival are getting a new twist this year, with different fillings that evoke regional specialties to cater to evolving tastes. The Mid-Autumn Festival, celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth month on the Chinese calendar, falls on Monday this year. As one of China's most important traditional holidays, it is a joyous time when family members appreciate the full moon together and share mooncakes, to mark the harvest season and an occasion of family reunion. In Qingdao City in east China's Shandong Province, one local baker has replicated renowned local landmarks hon mooncake crusts. The designer of these cultural and creative mooncakes said that it took nearly three months for more than 20 people to select the landmarks, finalize the design, and package the small treats. This Mid-Autumn Festival, long beans, a specialty of Shandong, are being mixed with braised meat and used to fill mooncakes, which have become a firm favorite among local mooncake aficionados, and those further afield. In Hengdong County, a district in Hengyang City in central China's Hunan Province, the most distinctive local specialty, yellow hot pepper, is being used to fill mooncakes that pack a punch and appeal to the local taste for something spicy. Pomelo mooncakes from south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and beef mooncakes from southwest China's Sichuan Province are also among the new varieties adding modern flavors to this traditional holiday sweet. Shotlist: Qingdao City, Shandong Province, east China - Oct 5, 2025: 1. Mooncake store; 2. Various of mooncakes for sale; 3. Shop manager introducing product; 4. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Tian Xueling, manager, bakery shop (ending with shot 5): "When tourists come, they can take away a product that holds a unique memory of Qingdao. It is not only delicious but also leaves an impression of Qingdao on them."; 5. Mooncakes; 6. Various of customers shopping at bakery; 7. Various of mooncakes; 8. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Liang Siyu, customer (starting with shot 7/ending with shot 9): "My classmate from out of town saw that this long bean mooncake was very popular online and asked me for a favor to buy some and send them to him."; 9. Mooncakes for sale; Hengdong County, Hengyang City, Hunan Province, central China - Recent 10. Various of customers in line; store owner packaging mooncakes; 11. Customer tasting mooncake; 12. Various of staff making mooncakes; 13. Various of mooncakes; 14. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Jin Zhiwei, mooncake store owner (starting with shot 13): "We have sold more than 10,000 of these mooncakes. Many customers came specially to buy the yellow hot pepper and shredded pork mooncake." 15. Staff making mooncakes; 16. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Lang Hui, customer (ending with shot 17): "The initial taste is mainly sweet, but it has a slight spiciness that lingers. I also bought some to share with my relatives and friends."; 17. Packaged mooncakes; Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, south China - Recent 18. Various of bakers making mooncakes; Sichuan Province, southwest China - Recent 19. Various of mooncakes; 20. Customers buying mooncakes; 21. Various of mooncakes, vendor packaging mooncakes for customers. [Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]