Sales of festive-themed steamed buns are booming in east China's Shandong Province ahead of the upcoming Chinese New Year as pastry chefs show off their skills with a series of eye-catching decorative designs.

People across China are gearing up for the Spring Festival, the country's grandest annual celebration which centers around the Chinese New Year and this year falls on Feb 10. 

As a time when people across the country return to their hometowns for family reunions, many are also planning out the dishes that will make it onto the table for the all-important Chinese New Year's Eve feast, and the popularity of themed food items has been rising ahead of the occasion.

In Shandong's Heze City, bakers are busy making their own special steam buns to celebrate the upcoming festival. Also known as 'bobo', these steamed buns usually come in the shapes of different animals or colorful figures taking on various poses.

Staff at an old pastry store have been carefully constructing a whole series of distinctive themed buns to meet customers' demands, cleverly incorporating decorative designs into their work. 

One staff member said that with the upcoming holiday set to usher in the Year of the Dragon, steamed buns featuring the unmistakable shape and characteristics of the world-renowned Chinese dragon are proving a big hit among customers.

"We are proud to present these themed steamed buns named 'auspicious dragon bestows blessings' this year. At nearly 30 centimeters wide, its substantial size makes it popular among customers, and we are receiving between 300 to 400 orders each day," said Cui Cuilian, head of a local pastry store.