Nian Gao are made of sticky rice. They are originally white. Chinese think the white color of Nian Gao symbolizes "silver". However, it is also usual that Chinese make Nian Gao in golden or red color, because golden symbolizes gold and red color can symbolize all the good things according to Chinese culture.
To enforce their auspicious meaning, Chinese often make Nian Gao into the forms of Yuan Bao (shoe-shaped golden or silver ingot), flowers, or make beautiful patterns or auspicious words on Nian Gao. Nian Gao are both beautiful and delicious, therefore are very popular in China. In old days, the production of sticky rice was not high, and the producing process of Nian Gao was comparatively complicate, so Nian Gao were only made for Chinese New Year festival. But today Nian Gao have become daily food in China.
China has a colorful food culture. Chinese food is different from region to region. Nian Gao in different regions have different characters. For instance, in some regions people add many other ingredients into Nian Gao; in some regions people make Nian Gao with mixture of sticky rice and normal rice. The ingredients in Nian Gao and patterns and forms of Nian Gao vary also from region to region. In addition, rice taste makes also difference. Nian Gao in some regions are very famous because of their outstanding rice quality.
Comparing with those in daily food market, Nian Gao in Chinese New Year festival are always more beautiful and contain patterns or words about Chinese New Year celebration. They add much festive atmosphere to Chinese New Year.