Residents of Ningbo, Zhejiang province, are joyfully welcoming the start of the seafood season as the weather cools and temperature variations widen, allowing seafood like hairtail, pomfret and crab to mature into plump, delightful treats.

A seasoned seafood vendor named Zhang revealed that locals in Ningbo hold a special fondness for hairtail caught from the depths of the sea. "Its flesh is firm, elastic, shiny, and of top quality, offering a truly delightful taste."

Sharing a valuable tip on selecting hairtail, Zhang said, "A gentle press reveals everything. If the flesh is firm with a radiant sheen, it's a top-notch specimen. On the other hand, soft, dull meat indicates a lack of freshness."

Meanwhile, crabs are currently at their peak, with plump bodies and abundant succulent roe. Choosing premium crabs is simple — just holding one up to the light to reveal the plentiful roe along the edge of the shell is enough.

Prices are holding steady in the Ningbo seafood wholesale market. With temperatures expected to drop further and major celebrations like New Year's Day and the Spring Festival approaching, the quality of seafood is expected to rise, potentially causing prices to increase as demand surges, stated an industry insider.