[Photos above by Huang Xiao/Shaoxing Daily]

January 13th this year is the eighth day of the 12th month on the Chinese lunar calendar, a day widely regarded as the prelude to Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year. Eating Laba porridge is an age-old ritual that brings blessings for a healthy and auspicious new year. On the early morning of this day, Zhejiang Zhenyuan Co. LTD continued tradition and held the 10th Zhenyuan Laba Festival. The company handed out 25,000 bowls of secretly-made Laba porridge to people, presented the Chinese character Fu (meaning “good luck” and “happiness”) and sent citizens best wishes for the new year.