Move over, mooncakes! Lion’s head pastries are stealing the spotlight as China’s latest viral food trend, blending lion dance culture with buttery, flaky layers of artisanal pastry. Created by 24-year-old chef Chen Xiaodong, these intricate treats take 4-5 hours to craft—think of it as the culinary equivalent of sculpting a Michelangelo masterpiece… but edible.
Chen’s genius? Transforming the lion dance—a symbol of luck and celebration—into a golden, Instagram-ready dessert. His TikTok-style cooking videos have racked up millions of views, proving that Gen Z craves both cultural heritage and snackable content.
In a recent collab with CGTN, Chen even baked the network’s logo onto the pastry’s 'mane'—a playful twist that’s as bold as a lion’s roar.
Why it matters: This isn’t just baking—it’s edible storytelling. For global foodies and culture buffs, these pastries are a tasty portal into China’s living traditions, remixed for the digital age.
Lion’s head pastries are stealing the spotlight as China’s latest viral food trend, blending lion dance culture with buttery, flaky layers of artisanal pastry. Created by 24-year-old chef Chen Xiaodong, these intricate treats take 4-5 hours to craft—think of it as the culinary equivalent of sculpting a Michelangelo masterpiece… but edible. 
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