A staff member makes character-inlaid candies in Qimen County of Huangshan City, east China's Anhui Province, Jan. 13, 2026.

As the Spring Festival approaches, inheritors of the making crafts of character-inlaid candy, an intangible cultural heritage in Qimen County, are getting busy as this specialty sweet is highly sought for during the festival.

The making process of the candy includes boiling sugar, grinding powder, stirring, compacting, making inlaid characters, stretching sugar bar and slicing. Because the character embedded in the center of the candy always carries auspicious meanings, such candy is very popular during festivals.

Candies inlaid with Chinese character "Ma," referring to the horse, are the most popular now, as this Spring Festival will usher in the Year of the Horse. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu)

A staff member makes character-inlaid candies in Qimen County of Huangshan City, east China's Anhui Province, Jan. 13, 2026.

Staff members make character-inlaid candies in Qimen County of Huangshan City, east China's Anhui Province, Jan. 13, 2026.

A character-inlaid candy maker makes sesame filling in Qimen County of Huangshan City, east China's Anhui Province, Jan. 13, 2026.