Dried salted fish is lined up before shops in the Wanggezhuang neighborhood of Qingdao in East China's Shandong province, after entering the 12th month of the lunar Chinese calendar, known as "layue" in Chinese. [Photos by Wang Hua/for chinadaily.com.cn]

Winter is a perfect time to harvest dried salted fish in the Wanggezhuang neighborhood of Qingdao in East China's Shandong province.

Cleaned and deboned fish, including Spanish mackerel, angler fish, eel and cuttlefish, can all be pickled and dried, and among them the Spanish mackerel has long been most popular since past times, when residents had no refrigerators.

After a period of air-seasoning, the Spanish mackerel tastes deliciously salty and tender inside, and is rich in protein as well. The fish is ready to serve with dishes, such as stewed with turnips, steamed with cornbread, or just fried with peanut oil.

Dried salted fish is lined up before shops in the Wanggezhuang neighborhood of Qingdao in East China's Shandong province, after entering the 12th month of the lunar Chinese calendar, known as "layue" in Chinese. [Photos by Wang Hua/for chinadaily.com.cn]

Dried salted fish is lined up before shops in the Wanggezhuang neighborhood of Qingdao in East China's Shandong province, after entering the 12th month of the lunar Chinese calendar, known as "layue" in Chinese. [Photos by Wang Hua/for chinadaily.com.cn]

Dried salted fish is lined up before shops in the Wanggezhuang neighborhood of Qingdao in East China's Shandong province, after entering the 12th month of the lunar Chinese calendar, known as "layue" in Chinese. [Photos by Wang Hua/for chinadaily.com.cn]

Dried salted fish is lined up before shops in the Wanggezhuang neighborhood of Qingdao in East China's Shandong province, after entering the 12th month of the lunar Chinese calendar, known as "layue" in Chinese. [Photos by Wang Hua/for chinadaily.com.cn]

Dried salted fish is lined up before shops in the Wanggezhuang neighborhood of Qingdao in East China's Shandong province, after entering the 12th month of the lunar Chinese calendar, known as "layue" in Chinese. [Photos by Wang Hua/for chinadaily.com.cn]

Dried salted fish is lined up before shops in the Wanggezhuang neighborhood of Qingdao in East China's Shandong province, after entering the 12th month of the lunar Chinese calendar, known as "layue" in Chinese. [Photos by Wang Hua/for chinadaily.com.cn]

Dried salted fish is lined up before shops in the Wanggezhuang neighborhood of Qingdao in East China's Shandong province, after entering the 12th month of the lunar Chinese calendar, known as "layue" in Chinese. [Photos by Wang Hua/for chinadaily.com.cn]

Dried salted fish is lined up before shops in the Wanggezhuang neighborhood of Qingdao in East China's Shandong province, after entering the 12th month of the lunar Chinese calendar, known as "layue" in Chinese. [Photos by Wang Hua/for chinadaily.com.cn]