Sweet dumplings [Photo provided to China Daily]

The Hutong culture center in Beijing offers newcomers to China a chance to experience – and cook – a traditional dish for Lantern Festival, the 15th day of the Chinese New Year.

"Tangyuan — also knows as yuanxiao in northern China — are the sweet filled sticky-rice dumplings enjoyed during the Spring Festival," says the center's Kristen Lum. "They symbolize unification and evoke the roundness of the full moon."

"Our chefs are proud to share the culinary traditions and dishes of Spring Festival," she adds.

The Feb 11 class costs 300 yuan (260 for members), and participants will learn how to make traditional fillings (black sesame, date, and red bean) and the chewy, sticky dough from scratch.

If you go

10:30 am- 1 pm

1 Jiudaowan Zhongxiang at Beixinqiao, Dongcheng district

reservations: www.thehutong.com or call 15901046127.