Eating spring cakes is one of the dietary customs of China folk beginning of spring. In some areas (Northeast China, North China, etc.), beginning of spring has the custom of eating spring cakes, which are pancakes baked with flour and usually eaten with rolled vegetables.
Early spring cakes and vegetables were put on a plate and became "spring plates". The Song Dynasty's Chronicle of Years Old quoted the Tang Dynasty's Four Seasons Treasure Mirror as saying: "There was an eclipse of radish, spring cakes and lettuce in beginning of spring." From the Song Dynasty to the Ming and Qing Dynasties, eating spring cakes became more and more popular, and there was a record that the emperor gave spring cakes to officials in beginning of spring. Ming's "Travel Notes in Yan Dou" records: "On beginning of spring Day, the emperor gave Baiguan spring cakes at the noon gate." By the Qing dynasty, the stuffing of vegetables eaten with spring cakes was more abundant. People prepare side dishes or all kinds of stir-fried dishes, and put them into the cakes at will when eating spring cakes. Beginning of spring eats spring cakes to welcome spring and pray for a bumper harvest.