People celebrate Laba Festival across China

Volunteers serve Laba porridge for workers at a construction site in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Jan. 18, 2024.

The Laba Festival, literally the eighth day of the 12th lunar month, is considered a prelude to the Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year. It is customary to eat Laba porridge on this day. (Xinhua/Cao Li)

People eat Laba porridge at the Yonghegong Lama Temple in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 18, 2024.

The Laba Festival, literally the eighth day of the 12th lunar month, is considered a prelude to the Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year. It is customary to eat Laba porridge on this day. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)

People queue up for Laba porridge at the Yonghegong Lama Temple in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 18, 2024.

The Laba Festival, literally the eighth day of the 12th lunar month, is considered a prelude to the Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year. It is customary to eat Laba porridge on this day. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)

Laba porridge is served at the Yonghegong Lama Temple in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 18, 2024.

The Laba Festival, literally the eighth day of the 12th lunar month, is considered a prelude to the Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year. It is customary to eat Laba porridge on this day. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)

A citizen shows a bowl of Laba porridge at the Yonghegong Lama Temple in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 18, 2024.

The Laba Festival, literally the eighth day of the 12th lunar month, is considered a prelude to the Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year. It is customary to eat Laba porridge on this day. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)

People queue up for Laba porridge at the Yonghegong Lama Temple in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 18, 2024.

The Laba Festival, literally the eighth day of the 12th lunar month, is considered a prelude to the Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year. It is customary to eat Laba porridge on this day. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)

People queue up for Laba porridge at the Yonghegong Lama Temple in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 18, 2024.

The Laba Festival, literally the eighth day of the 12th lunar month, is considered a prelude to the Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year. It is customary to eat Laba porridge on this day. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)