Packaged steamed buns made in Renzhi village [Photo/Hangzhou Daily]

For people in Renzhi village of Tonglu county, Hangzhou, steamed buns have become a way to prosperity.

As the old saying goes, food is the prime want of the people. Villagers in Renzhi are experienced at making steamed buns, and the tradition can be traced back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

In Tonglu, steamed buns are indispensable on festive occasions such as weddings and birthdays. Gradually, the ball-shaped wheaten food has become widely used to convey auspiciousness.

Making and selling buns has become an industry in Renzhi village. More than 3 million yuan ($430,000) has been invested in the construction of an industrial park for steamed buns here, and the village has joined hands with e-commerce platforms to expand sales channels and create a brand.

Today, there are 17 workshops in Renzhi making about 50,000 buns every day. Life is getting better for many villagers as well.

At the beginning of 2020, the sales of steamed buns were hindered by the COVID-19 epidemic, so village officials are now even more determined to improve the quality and influence of the industry.

In addition to the industry itself, Renzhi will also promote the culture of steamed buns, as well as rural life in the village.