Shandong artisan's huamo steamed buns delight locals

In the town of Matou, in Dongming county – administered by Heze city of East China's Shandong province – Su Sanmei is something of a star when it comes to buns.

She's gaining recognition for transforming the traditional craft of decorated steamed buns, known as huamo, into culinary works of art.

Huamo, a type of Chinese folk dough art, has found a real home in Su's kitchen. Her huamo creations are not just tasty treats – they're also thrilling and colorful flights of fancy, shared during special occasions such as festivals, birthdays, weddings and funerals.

Su's method involves tools such as cutting boards, scissors, rolling pins, combs and colored pencils. Each piece takes time – sometimes more than a month – reflecting her dedication and eye for detail.

Beyond adhering to tradition, Su explores new ideas. In her free time, she learns different huamo techniques online – incorporating symbols like dragons, phoenixes, peonies, lotus flowers and even succulent plants into her creations. This modern touch makes her huamo popular and always in demand.

Some of Su's extraordinary huamo steamed buns go on show. [Photo by Liu Hangong for chinadaily.com.cn]

As Su Sanmei's reputation grows, her buns have become a must-have for local celebrations. Villagers seek her out to add an artistic touch to their special events. (Edited by Zhou Yunlai)