Jinan-style scallion rolls

A bowl of Jinan-style salty soup and a Jinan-style scallion roll bring back sweet memories of Spring Festival for Jinan's senior citizens.

Jinan-style scallion rolls are among the variety of special delicacies for Spring Festival that are now readily available. Scallion rolls have a spiral-like design on the top and a flowing spring design on the back.

The rolls are a Shandong province intangible cultural heritage item, and Lu Lihua, who has been baking them for more than 40 years, is a representative inheritor.

Lu is a Chinese culinary expert and a senior pastry technician, among other credentials. When it comes to the cutting board, though, she is a dedicated pastry chef, and baking rolls has been her life mission.

"Making the scallion rolls is actually tedious. I have thought about giving up countless times, but it is like being married. Although there have been setbacks for decades, I still love it all the way," Lu said

As Spring Festival approaches, Lu is busier than usual. Nonetheless, she hopes that more people enjoy her scallion rolls, and that someone can pass on her craftsmanship.