The traditional wooden moulds used for shaping mooncakes are made by hand. — Filepic
Speaking Mandarin with a strong Cantonese accent, Yu Zhaoji worked swiftly yet steadily on a piece of wood shaped like a pizza peel – only narrower and thicker – using his specialised carving knife.
Within minutes, delicate carved lines appeared along the circular groove in the wood, forming the perfect base for a mooncake mould. It is a craft the 65-year-old artisan has honed over half a century, continuing a family tradition that spans some 160 years.
