People in Jiangsu province are making preparations for the annual edition of the Mid-Autumn Festival though it is two weeks away. In the meantime, the harvest of hairy crabs has got underway in Jiangsu to usher in the annual sales boom.
During Mid-Autumn Festival, hairy crab -- rich in protein and amino acids -- is probably one of most sought-after delicacy among Chinese people. Crabs are ready to lay their eggs around the time of the festival, meaning they are at their tastiest right then. A plate of steamed hairy crabs dressed with ginger and vinegar always forms the highlight of the Mid-Autumn Festival reunion dinner.
The harvest of the hairy crabs got underway in Jiangxin Islet in Zhenjiang city Saturday
A QR code identification ring is attached to each crab to ensure the traceability of the crabs when the consumer scans the QR code with the smart phones.
2300 tons of hairy crabs are expected to be harvested in Zhenjiang this year.
The hairy crabs from Hongze Lake have been put up for sale on the market with the daily wholesale volume hitting 5000 kg.
The harvest of hairy crabs has also started in Changzhou, Yangzhou and Taizhou with reservation for gift packages boosted before the arrival of the mid-autumn festival.
The sales of moon cake have also shot up significantly with the approaching footsteps of the mid-autumn festival. A mooncake is a delicately-stuffed round cake, symbolizing family reunions and best wishes. It is the most traditional and important food of the Mid-autumn Festival. The cake is often exchanged as a gift between family and friends during the festival to convey their best wishes.
There are all kinds of mooncakes to choose from. What's especially important about mooncakes is their filling. The traditional fillings are sweetened bean paste, Jujube paste and nut paste. Nowadays, new fillings are being invented and produced all the time such as cream-chocolate or jam and dried fruits.
A family dinner is the choice of many families over the mid-Autumn Festival. Many restaurants have had their tables fully booked ahead of the arrival of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Many upscale hotels have already made arrangement for the wedding banquet market. Many popular hotels have had their seats for wedding banquets fully booked for the Mid-Autumn Festival and the National Day holiday. For some other hotels, the weekend reservation has been extended to late October.
