It is mainly made up of many kinds of rice, beans, peanuts, dried fruit, lotus seeds, etc.

[2][3] Depending on region-based variations in China, it can also include tofu, potato, meat and vegetables.

It is also known as "eight-treasure congee" (八宝粥; Bā bǎo zhōu)[4] and is usually made with eight or more ingredients, representing good luck.

In the Northern and Southern dynasties period, the date of the Laba Festival was fixed on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.

In the Song dynasty, Laba congee was widely consumed throughout China by not only the common people, but also government officials and aristocrats.