Fresh pork mooncakes are on sale at a Hema Fresh outlet in Hangzhou. [Photo/Tide News]

With more than two months to go before Mid-Autumn Festival, the seasonal mooncake market in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, is already heating up for the city's beloved savory varieties.

Freshly baked pork mooncakes are becoming bestsellers at several supermarkets and time-honored pastry shops across the city.

Hema Fresh, Alibaba's grocery chain, is offering more than eight flavors, including classic pork-filled mooncakes and trendy picks like durian-cheese and red-bean varieties. Prices range from 14.9 yuan ($2.07) to 19.9 yuan ($2.76) per box.

Hotels are joining in on the early festivities as well. The Haihua Hotel on Qingchun Road has launched three gift box sets, available for pre-order at a 15 percent discount, with prices ranging from 117 yuan to 279 yuan. Meanwhile, the Marriott Hotel in Hangzhou's Lin'an district offers themed gift boxes, including a co-branded set with its sister hotel in Guangzhou.

At the Friendship Hotel, orders for the signature pork-and-pickle mooncakes began in June, with more than 300 sold each day. A premium gift box, which includes six mooncakes and a pair of celadon cups, is also available for 298 yuan.

The early surge in mooncake sales reflects locals' enduring love for this festive treat, with both traditional and new flavors fueling the market.