Datong mianren

The custom of making dough figurines originated in the late Yuan Dynasty. At that time, the people in Datong area were oppressed by foreigners, and they often got up-the ruler of the Yuan Dynasty and later the uprising team gradually developed and expanded. In order to secretly convey information, every household gave each other noodles on July 15th, and a note was hidden in their stomachs, telling each other to hold an uprising on August 15th. Therefore, there is a saying in this area that "people are sent on July 15th and boots are killed on August 15th". After the Ming Dynasty unified China, in order to commemorate the 15th of July, people were still given as gifts for good luck. After the liberation of Datong, the dough figurines became more and more refined, and some of them were dyed. Many housewives like to carve them carefully, so as to show off their ingenuity and win praise from their relatives and friends when giving them gifts. Nowadays, Cao Xiuyun, a teacher of the First Vocational Middle School in Datong City, has produced many kinds of "Datong Faces", with different shapes, bright colors and vivid images, which are very popular among the people. He has participated in many provincial and municipal art exhibitions and won many awards. Some foreign guests also specially sent people to place orders with them as souvenirs.
Reprinted with attribution： https://cnlocality.com/(Chinese Specialty Products)