Xie Lao Song's signature dishes include the socalled xianglaxie, or 'fragrant and spicy crab'. Liu Zhihua / China Daily

Years ago, when Zhu imported sea crabs from South Asian countries, he could simply hire fishing boats directly to catch the crabs. Nowadays, he needs to buy the crustaceans wholesale at prices ranging from 50 yuan ($7.80) to hundreds of yuan per kilogram.

As one of the earliest restaurants to introduce sea crabs to the Chinese, the restaurant chain offers diners delicious sea crabs all year long.

For this year's festival, the restaurant chain will import more than 20 kinds of sea crabs from all over the world, including Alaska king crabs from the United States, Burmese mud crabs from Myanmar, Russian snow crabs, and Dungeness crabs from the Pacific Ocean.

Apart from the signature "fragrant and spicy" crabs, the restaurant chain also offers garlic-flavored, oil-stewed and steamed crabs.

It also offers diners meaty Chinese hairy crabs, which are raised at its own breeding base in Yangcheng Lake, Jiangsu province, and authentic Hubei-style delicacies, including wild Honghu duck, sauced duck wing, Wuhan hot dry noodles and Wuchang chicken feet.

There are lucky draws every day in the three branches.

Contact the writer at liuzhihua@chinadaily.com.cn