Children display a design crafted from food crops to celebrate the Laba Festival at a kindergarten in Lianyungang City, Jiangsu Province, January 16, 2024. The Laba Festival, which falls on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, marks the official start of Spring Festival. The Laba this year falls on Jan 18. (CFP Photo)

A kindergarten teacher introduces the ingredients of Laba congee to children in Lianyungang City, Jiangsu Province, January 17, 2024. (CFP Photo)

Children in a kindergarten in Lianyungang City, Jiangsu Province, learn about the ingredients used in cooking Laba congee on January 17, 2024. (CFP Photo)

This photo taken on January 16 shows international students at Jiangsu University cooking Laba congee and learning about folk culture with local residents in Zhenjiang City. (CFP Photo)

Children at Andemen Kindergarten in Nanjing City learn about the ingredients for making Laha congee on January 17, 2024. (CFP Photo)

Children enjoy Laba congee at a kindergarten in Lianyungang City, Jiangsu Province, January 17, 2024. (CFP Photo)

Laba congee are served free of charge to the public in the City God Temple of Nantong, Jiangsu Province, January 18. (CFP Photo)

This photo shows a bowl of Laba congee prepared by Yongning Temple in Yancheng City, Jiangsu Province, January 17, 2024. Eighteen ingredients, including dates, lotus seeds and walnuts, are used to cook the congee. 10,000 bowls of Laba congee are served free of charge to the public from 6:00 am to noon on January 18. (CFP Photo)