There are three major types of candied dates in China: Beijing-style candied dates (17%+moisture and northern candied dates), Hui-style candied dates (13%-moisture or southern candied dates) and Gui-style candied dates (7%-moisture). The taste is getting harder and harder.
The common golden silk candied dates and Ejiao crystal dates belong to the Beijing-style candied dates and their variants. These are soft dates.
The latter two categories belong to hard candied dates.