QINGDAO -- As the Chinese New Year approaches, residents in Qingdao, a seaside city in east China's Shandong Province, have been busy stocking up on festive goods, with seafood among the most sought-after items for holiday feasts.

In Laoshan District, a local market was packed with shoppers seeking traditional holiday supplies to celebrate the most important festival for Chinese people as early as 08:00. Local sweet-cured fish, available in more than a dozen varieties at fair prices, were particularly popular.

People living by the sea all love this fish. Monkfish is more on the supply.

Prices have remained largely stable compared with last year, though mackerel saw a modest increase.

This year, per kilo mackerel is more than four yuan (about 0.57 U.S. dollars) higher than last year, while the prices of other fish are basically the same.

Fresh catches such as pomfret and yellow croaker are also in high demand, as families prepare traditional dishes for the family reunion at the Spring festival, which falls on Feb 17 this year.