In Xuzhou, Jiangsu, Tengzhou, Shandong and Chengdu, Sichuan, there is a custom of drinking mutton soup on the winter solstice. "When the winter solstice comes, mutton is delicious." Mutton can be said to be the first choice for nourishing and keeping out the cold in winter. Eating it can not only resist the cold, but also nourish the body. In some places, there is a saying that "eating mutton on the winter solstice will warm the winter."

In Changsha, Zhuzhou and other places in Hunan, eight-treasure glutinous rice is eaten on the winter solstice. Longan meat, red dates, medlar, walnut kernel, rock sugar, etc. are mixed with glutinous rice and steamed. In addition to steaming, boiling and other cooking methods, the glutinous rice that Changsha people eat every day is also fried with lard, and then steamed with red dates and lotus seeds.