Don’t Be a Fool, Eat Your Gruel: The Story Behind Eating Porridge for Laba Festival, Jan 5

Some people will do anything for a free meal, even if that means waiting in line outside in Beijing in the middle of January for nothing more than a bowl of thin 粥 zhōu, or porridge. And yet tomorrow thousands of Beijingers will line up at temples throughout the city to do just that in honor of the Festival of Laba.

Originally published by The Beijinger on January 4, 2017