Every hairy crab season, the name of "Yangcheng Lake" spreads like a trickle all over the country. It not only dedicates the most sacred delicacy in the fireworks of the world, but also brings the abundance and joy of this season to people's tables. A plate of golden fat hairy crabs was placed on the table, bringing endless enjoyment to the people at the dinner, who not only tasted the delicious crab meat, but also shared a deep friendship. Pour a glass of wine and take a bite of food, so that "eating" is no longer just to fill your stomach, but also a way to gather with family and friends. All of this is thanks to the vast and abundant Yangcheng Lake.
Yangcheng Lake, a long causeway with clear water and tranquil and far-reaching waters, has unique natural resources. The lake water is clear and there are many kinds of organisms, which not only breeds fish, shrimp and hairy crabs, but also is the birthplace of Wuyue culture. It integrates the pragmatic industrial tradition, the spirit of the scholars and the temperament of the literati, forming a refined and elegant cultural aesthetic style. Therefore, eating, drinking, living and playing in Jiangnan all exude exquisite and agile taste and carefully carved craftsmanship.
Crab farmer Lao Wu, a crab farmer who has been raising crabs for generations, took us to swim on the lake in a wooden boat and shared his story of crab farming. Every year from the beginning of spring, he will release the crab seedlings into Yangcheng Lake to adapt them to the water quality and environment, and the following spring and summer seasons are the meticulous care process of the crab seedlings. "I spend my days on the lake, preparing feed, feeding, regulating the oxygen levels of the lake's water, and planting aquatic plants... Each crab needs to undergo nearly twenty molts before it grows into a perfect hairy crab. Lao Wu said with emotion, "The authentic Yangcheng Lake hairy crab is the most valuable wealth left to me by my father, but it is difficult for people from the outside world to taste the real Yangcheng Lake hairy crab." ”
In order to protect the lake's water quality, the Suzhou government has removed most of the purse seine nets on the lake's periphery, allowing only residents of Lotus Island to continue crab farming, making it difficult to meet market demand for annual production. Therefore, what most people taste is actually Taihu crab. Lao Wu told us that in terms of taste, Taihu crabs are also quite delicious, and sometimes they themselves are difficult to distinguish. However, the long-established brand effect of "Yangcheng Lake" has attracted people, resulting in a shortage of supply, so the hairy crabs here are highly regarded.
Crab culture has a long history, and crabs were once a disaster that threatened agriculture. But with the passage of time and the evolution of human food culture, through cooking and seasoning, people have turned crab meat into a delicacy. The consumption of crabs has become an important part of Chinese food culture, and the hairy crabs in Yangcheng Lake have accumulated a culture for thousands of years.
Not only food, crab culture also stimulates people's emotions in poetry, calligraphy and painting. In the golden autumn, people gather together to share the hairy crab feast and make good memories. It has become a ritual to pay homage to the harvest season. Whether it's the cold winds of the north or the warm sunshine of the south, there are delicious foods waiting to be tasted in every season. Season after season of reincarnation, people can truly interact with nature and enjoy beauty together.
In an irreplaceable way, Yangcheng Lake has brought the world the beauty of gathering, satisfaction and deliciousness, which is its irreplaceable greatness.