The Winter Solstice ('Dong-zhi' in Chinese, literally means the arrival of winter) is one of the 24 solar divisions in the Chinese calendar. To many Chinese, the winter solstice is one of the most important festivals, not less important than the Chinese New Year. The Chinese started celebrating the winter solstice in Zhou Dynasty (11th century - 256B.C.) and the rituals of celebration are different in different parts of the China.

People from the Northern provinces would eat dumplings, wonton or rice porridge with red beans on the winter solstice; whereas those from the South would have glutinous rice balls. In Hangzhou, people would intentionally save the fish head and tail on winter solstice and put it in a rice pot overnight. On the next day, the leftover fish will be eaten. In Chinese, the word 'fish' rhymes with 'leftover' which is a wish for abundance and surplus.

People living in Jiangsu and nearby provinces would host a banquet at home on the day before the winter solstice. Dong Yang (which is Shaoxing wine with brown sugar syrup added) must be served throughout the feast. In Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian province, glutinous rice balls would be prepared before worshipping the ancestors. People will then stick the rice balls on the front door.