The Chinese New Year, which falls on Feb 1 this year, is fast approaching. Here are some local specialties that residents of Zhangjiagang, Suzhou, Jiangsu province love to eat during the holiday.

Salted Pork

Several cuts of salted pork are hung in the open air to dry. [Photo/zjgonline.com.cn]

In the twelfth lunar month of the year, Zhangjiagang residents love to make salted pork. The process is simple: first, cover the pork completely with salt to get rid of some of the water, and then hang it in the open air and wait for it to dry. This also applies to making salted fish or chicken.

Salted pork can be steamed or stewed later to be added to other dishes.

Deep-fried pork

A bowl of deep-fried pork looks mouth-watering. [Photo/zjgonline.com.cn]

Deep-fried boiled pork is usually cooked with dried bamboo shoots or taro.

Rice wine

A bowl of rice wine is served with several wolfberries. [Photo/zjgonline.com.cn]

Many families in Zhangjiagang will make rice wine before Spring Festival. The sweet wine is usually consumed with red dates or wolfberries.