Raw fish salad, Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province

Jiujiang in Jiangxi Province enjoys a long history of raw fish salad consumption on the eve of Chinese New Year. It has become a unique custom in local holiday celebration. The dish uses raw fish as main ingredient, combined with a variety of vegetables and fruit slices and dried fruits such as peanuts and cashew. While eating, people raise the delicious food and shout "Laoqi, laoqi…". "Laoqi" is the harmonic of "Laoxi", which in English means "picking up the happiness", from which they express their good will of good luck in the year ahead.

Today many restaurants offer a wide selection of raw fish salad. They allure visitors by wonderful varieties. At the dinner time, you can hear the sound of "Laoqi" burst forth from all sides in hotels. The noisy scene is full of the atmosphere of a joyous Spring Festival.