Fishermen have been taking advantage of the fine weather to increase their incomes by drying and processing lotus leaves in Weishan county, Jining, Shandong province.

After drying, cutting, frying and other processing, lotus leaves can be transformed into lotus leaf tea, medicinal materials and food packaging to generate additional income to local villagers.

According to a local fisherman, the market has been particularly good this year, with the price of dried lotus leaves hitting 26 yuan ($4.01) per kilogram. His family can earn more than 1,000 yuan every day by drying the lotus leaves.

Fishermen dry lotus leaves in front of their homes on Aug 14 in Hehe village, Weishan county, Jining, Shandong province. The leaves can be used in lotus leaf tea, medicinal materials and food packaging. [Photo/IC]

An aerial photo shows local fishermen drying lotus leaves in Weishan county, Jining. [Photo/IC]

Fishermen dry lotus leaves on a sunny day. The surrounding Weishan Lake, China's sixth largest fresh water lake in southern Shandong province, has an abundance of aquatic lotus plants. [Photo/IC]

Fishermen sort dried lotus leaves, which can be used as food wrappers. [Photo/IC]

Dried lotus leaves have significantly increased the incomes of local fishermen in Weishan county, Jining. [Photo/IC]