Steamed saury, 清蒸刀鱼, Qing Zhen Dao Yu [Photo/js.ifeng.com]

Located on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, Nantong faces a wide area of the river that provides the rich bait preferred by the saury, a local fish. Therefore, the sauries from Nantong are large and plump, with scales flashing like silver, and taste extremely delicious. They appear on the market just after Spring Festival, and fishing boats from all over the country can be found on the Yangtze River and the Nantong River, presenting a spectacular view. When Nantong people entertain their relatives and friends during the first month of the lunar year, steamed saury is the dish most looked forward to.