With the temperature dropping in the autumn season, people in China are changing their diet to include more hearty dishes that will help them preserve more energy for the upcoming winter. Dining tables across the country are filling up with regional autumn specialties and Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province is home to several must-eat delicious delicacies that will warm a diner's soul and satiate their tastebuds.

Swimming crabs

Steamed swimming crabs. [Photo/WeChat account: zsqdly]

Autumn is the best time to enjoy crabs in the year. Among the various crabs, swimming crabs are a favorite among Zhoushan natives.

Salt baked crabs, braised crabs, scallion oil crabs, and stir-fried rice cake with crabs are commonly seen on dining tables across the city.

Hairtail

Braised hairtail. [Photo/WeChat account: zsqdly]

Hairtail is another famous produce in Zhoushan with Zhoushan-produced hairtail being the most popular seafood product for residents in the Yangtze River Delta region during the recently concluded Double Eleven shopping carnival.

Zhoushan natives typically steam or braise the hairtail to make it a tasty dish or air-dry it with salt.

Local chickens

Braised hairtail. [Photo/WeChat account: zsqdly]

For people who desire a healthy dish, a bowl of chicken soup is the best choice. Free-range chickens in Zhoushan are most suitable to make soup, which not only tastes delicious, but also boasts rich nutrients.

Dried fish

Dishes made by different dried fish. [Photo/WeChat account: zsqdly]

Dried fish is a special food in Zhoushan and all kinds of fish, including yellow croaker, sea eel, spanish mackerel, and hairtail, can be made into dried fish.

Dried fish can be served as a dish or cooked with other ingredients. Braised pork in brown sauce with dried fish is especially popular among Zhoushan natives.