A fishing boat returns to Dongping Lake's shore loaded with freshly caught fish in Tai'an. [Photo/WeChat account: dpwljt]

Recently, Dongping Lake in Tai'an has started the fishing season after months of moratorium. The stagnant period has brought about an abundance of fish, shrimp, and crabs.

Dongping Lake, located in the southwest of Shandong province and sits at the intersection of the Yellow River, the Dawen River, and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, is known for its vast quantities of aquatic life, including more than a dozen different species of aquatic plants and more than 100 different species of fish.

A fisherman catches a basket of fish on Dongping Lake in Tai'an. [Photo/WeChat account: dpwljt]

A customer buys fish directly from a fisherman on a fishing boat loaded with fish in Tai'an. [Photo/WeChat account: dpwljt]

Dongping locals make fish dishes in various ways, such as braising and steaming the fish. In recent years, Dongping has received an increasing number of visitors, so the locals have been making sure to prepare fish dishes in ways that appeal to different appetites. [Photo/WeChat account: dpwljt]