The food and snacks for the Spring Festival contain special auspicious significance and are different from place to place.

niangao(New Year cake), which symbolizes having good luck in everything and getting promotion year by year, is a must for every Chinese family on the lunar New Year. However, in the north of China, the local people make gaotuo(cooked wheaten food) and glutinous millet cakes for the festival; in the south of China, shuimo niangao(New Year cake made from finely ground glutinous rice flour); in southwest China, glutinous rice cakes; and in Taiwan, red bean cakes.

Jiaozi(dumplings with meat and vegetable stuffing) is traditional food for the people in north China. In the shape of shoe-shape gold ingot, Jiaozi has an auspicious meaning of "bringing in money and treasure". On New Year´s Eve, the whole family will sit together to make Jiaozi and celebrate the Spring Festival. The tradition of having Jiaozi is very important during the Spring Festival.