Situated on the coast of the East China Sea, Sanmen, a county level city of Taizhou, has been dubbed the "Chinese hometown of blue crabs" and the "Chinese hometown of small seafood" thanks to the abundance of seafood there.

The county has 590,000 offshore acres of shallow sea and 210,000 acres of tidal flats and is replete with small seafood including fish, shrimp, shellfish, algae, and crabs.

Autumn is the best season to eat crabs, as they are most fertile during this period. Blue crabs can be steamed, boiled, or braised, and in Sanmen, it is common practice to boil blue crabs with noodles.

The dish is easy to make. First, the crabs must be cleaned, especially their bellies. Then they are fried in oil with seasonings such as chilies and scallions. Lastly, water is added and the noodles are prepared. 

Local residents habitually make noodles and air-dry them in autumn and winter. The noodles are handmade with only water and sweet potato starch.

The tenderness of crab meat complements the chewy noodles well, making it a popular dish among visitors.

Sweet potato noodles with blue crab, a signature dish in Sanmen, a county-level city in Taizhou. [Photo/WeChat account: meilitaizhou_]