While chocolate is the traditional food of love on Valentine's Day, this year you might want to whisper sweet nothings to your other half over yuanxiao, the sweetened rice dumplings traditionally eaten on the Lantern Festival.

With both festivals falling on Feb 14 this year, the date is an unusually auspicious one - not just for young love but also for the emergence of one aspect of China's ancient culture into the modern world.

Just as Western influences can be tasted in the modern mooncake, the traditional Chinese delicacy eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival, chocolate and yuanxiao are one of many new pairings for the Lantern Festival.