The approach of this year's Lantern Festival has been a boost for sales of yuanxiao, or rice glue ball this year.

    Outlets of established food companies in the Chinese capital such as Daoxiangcun, Dasanyuan and Jinfang Snacks are seeing long queues.

    Yuanxiao represents family reunion. It is a traditional festive snack that people have on the Lantern Festival.

    Yuanxiao prices have risen by over ten per cent, in the face of increased demand.

    In an Daoxiangcun outlet, dozens of customers are queuing in front of the counter for yuanxiao. A sales personnel says yuanxiao has sold well since Wednesday.

    Soundbite: Langxueqing, a sales staff of Daoxiangcun. There are so many customers these days. There are at least 30 people queuing even when I keep selling. The longest line can reach across the car park.

    Soundbite. Liu guizhang, assistant sales manager of Daoxaingcun Now the machines never stop running. All the machines are on, making rice glue balls 24 hours a day. The machines don't rest for a minute, and our people are working on two or three shifts. 

    In an outlet of Jinfang Snacks, all the yuanxiao are already sold out.

    Soundbite: Shopkeeper at the Jinfang Snacks outlet, Guo Qiumin All the yuanxiao of mixed flavours were sold out before 10 o'clock this morning. The Head Office is very busy and can barely meet the supply schedule.

    The Lantern Festival is celebrated in the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunar year in the Chinese Calendar. It officially ends the Chinese new year. This year it happens on February 9.  

    As a tradition , thousands of colorful lanterns are hung out and people go out on to the street to admire them, try to solve the puzzles on them, eat yuanxiao.

    Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing.