Mooncakes of both traditional and innovative flavors are in high demand across China as the coming of the Mid-Autumn Festival, a traditional Chinese holiday usually marked by family reunions, enjoying the full moon and eating the delicacy. The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on Sept 29 this year. It is celebrated on the night when the moon is at its fullest and brightest on the 15th day of the eighth month on the Chinese lunar calendar.

In Wuxi City, east China's Jiangsu Province, crispy Suzhou-style mooncakes are highly sought after by locals of all ages and have witnessed a sales peak in recent days.

The Suzhou-style mooncake, with its richly savory pork filling and thin layers of crisp, flaky pastry, is one of the most beloved flavors among locals.

Huangshan City in Anhui, a neighboring province of Jiangsu, has come to its peak season for the production and sales of sesame crunchy pastry and other local festive snacks.

"During the early sales period of the Mid-Autumn Festival, we received a steady stream of orders for our products. The production volume of Dingshisu pastry reached about 1,500 kilos, and Huimosu pastry was about 1,000 kilos," said Hu Ying, a pastry chef.

Dingshisu, a representative pastry of Anhui, is made with sesame, sugar, and flour, and wrapped in red paper. It has been popular among locals since the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). Huimosu is another classical local pastry that resembles Huizhou ink. Mooncakes are often known for their dense and overly sweet fillings, but now these pastries are undergoing a calorie makeover by using refined-sugar substitutes instead of white sugar to cater to health-conscious customers.

Shops in Shijiazhuang city, north China's Hebei Province, are offering these healthier alternatives for the consumers especially diabetic patients, the elderly, and those who want to maintain their weight.

"Since the beginning of this year, especially during the Mid-Autumn Festival period, there has been a noticeable increase in customers coming to our stores to inquire about and purchase sugar-substitute mooncakes. The sales of the sugar-substitute mooncakes have increased by more than 10 percent compared to last year," said Yang Hongwei, executive deputy director of a local food company.