The mooncake is round, symbolizing reunion and signifying a good reunion. It reflects people's good wishes for family reunion.

Mooncakes, also known as hu cake, palace cake, small cake, moon cake, reunion cake, etc., has a long history in China. The eating of mooncakes at Mid-Autumn Festival can be traced back to the earliest Zhou Dynasty originating from the ethnic ritual of moon worship. According to legend, in ancient China, emperors had the ritual of sacrificing the sun in spring and the moon in fall. In folklore, there is also the custom of worshipping or banning the moon every Mid-Autumn Festival in August.

People dedicate mooncakes and various fruits to the moon god, who "enjoys" the offerings and then cuts the mooncakes, which are said to be blessed and protected by the god according to the order of the youngest and the oldest." But this time the moon cake is not called moon cake.