The temperature dips to six degrees below freezing in the fishing villages in Laoshan district of the eastern coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province, after a strong wind, providing locals the optimal climate to make the traditional sun-dried fish.

The twelfth lunar month has always been the selling season for salt fish, dried squid and an aromatic shrimp paste, thanks to a buying spree for the upcoming Spring Festival.

Rows of cleaned and processed fish are hanged to dry in the chilling sea wind and winter sun in fishing villages in Laoshan district of Qingdao. [Photo/news.qingdaonews.com]

A Qingdao fisherman guts and cleans fish for drying. [Photo/news.qingdaonews.com]