The months from July to September, the hottest period of the year in Qingdao, Shandong province, are when local fisherman head out to sea for the annual jellyfish harvest.

One of the main harvest areas is the sea surrounding Huangshan community in Laoshan district where jellyfish reproduce and grow.

Jellyfish is a common delicacy in Chinese culture. Diners who appreciate this dish often describe the texture as smooth, crisp, crunchy and bouncy.

Fishing vessels berth at a dock before the jellyfish harvest in Laoshan district, Qingdao. [Photo by Liu Mingyuan/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Fishermen brave the scorching summer heat to harvest jellyfish in Qingdao. [Photo by Liu Mingyuan/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Fishermen harvest jellyfish using a net in Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo by Liu Mingyuan/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Fishermen retrieve their haul of jellyfish in Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo by Liu Mingyuan/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Harvested jellyfish is quickly brought to shore, where an army of gloved workers process it. [Photo by Liu Mingyuan/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Jellyfish is a common delicacy in Chinese culture. [Photo by Liu Mingyuan/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

An aerial photo shows the picturesque landscape of Laoshan district, Qingdao. [Photo by Liu Mingyuan/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]