During the Lantern Festival, people in northern China eat Yuanxiao, while people in southern China eat Tangyuan.
在元宵节，中国的北方吃元宵；南方则吃汤圆。
In China, they are must-have delicious food eaten during the festival.
在中国，元宵和汤圆都是元宵节日必吃的美食。
However, a lot of Chinese people think that Yuanxiao are the same food.
但是，有很多中国人都认为这两种美食是一样的。
Actually, the differences lie in their making, fillings, cooking, and storage.
然而事实上，它们的制作方法、馅料选择、烹饪习惯和储藏方式都有所不同。
Yuanxiao is rolled in a basket and its surface tends to be dry and soft.
元宵是在篮子里滚出来的；表皮干燥松软。
Tangyuan is kneaded by hand and its surface is smooth and glutinous.
而汤圆则是用手包出来的；表皮光滑黏糯。
They are also cooked differently.
另外，它们的烹饪习惯也不相同。
Yuanxiao is served in a thick broth after at least 10 minutes' cooking.
煮元宵，往往要10分钟以上，煮后的汤变浑汤。
Tangyuan is served in a thinner soup, and cooked for only 5 minutes.
煮汤圆，大概5分钟就好，煮后的汤是清汤。
Tangyuan has a variety of soft fillings.
汤圆馅软，选择众多。
It has two different tastes, with sweet or salty stuffing.
它有有两种口味，可咸可甜。
Sweet fillings include bean paste, jujube paste, and sesame sugar.
甜馅的有豆沙、枣泥和芝麻。
The salty fillings are minced meat with crushed peanut or mushroom.
咸馅的有花生碎鲜肉或香菇鲜肉。
Yuanxiao has sweet and solid fillings.
元宵馅硬，以甜味为主。
It is usually made of sesame and bean paste.
芝麻和豆沙都是常见的馅。
Fruit fillings are very common now.
现在水果馅料也很常见。
Their storage is also different.
元宵和汤圆的储存方式也是不一样的。
Tangyuan has a longer shelf-life.
汤圆保质期较长。
It can be kept in cold storage for a very long time, so quick-frozen Tangyuan is sold in supermarkets.
它可以冷冻起来，保存很长时间，所以超市里都能买到速冻汤圆。
Yuanxiao has a short shelf-life.
元宵的保质期就比较短。
Because yuanxiao will easily crack when refrigerated, it is made and sold on the same day.
由于元宵冷冻后容易开裂，所以都是当日制作，当日售卖。
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