The millennial entrepreneur creating China’s answer to Beyond Meat

During his first year in college in the US, Lu Zhongming became a victim of the "freshman 15" -- the supposed phenomenon of university students putting on weight during their first year, said to be about 15 pounds.

“I added 20kg in just one semester and had very low self esteem,” said Lu during a 2016 appearance in Chinese Partners, the Chinese version of ABC’s entrepreneurship reality show Shark Tank.

To turn things around, Lu got into weight-lifting. The hobby inspired him and two classmates to start a business selling protein bars in China. They signed deals with investors on Chinese Partners, and Lu eventually sold his shares last year.

The age-old pastry, so iconic that it earned its own emoji ( 🥮) last year, is served during the Mid-Autumn Festival, which marks the full moon’s arrival in early autumn. The most common type is stuffed with sweet lotus seed paste with salted egg yolk in the center, but there are regional variations. Suzhou-style mooncakes, a perennial favorite in Shanghai and nearby areas, contain savory ground pork.