People across China are busy shopping and preparing for the upcoming Laba Festival which falls on Thursday this year.
The Laba Festival is literally the eighth day of the 12th month of the lunar Chinese calendar. It is considered a prelude to the Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb 10 this year.

Vendors at a market in Tongjiang City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, vigorously solicited customers with their frozen fish.
Despite the temperature dipping to minus 20 degrees Celsius, people's enthusiasm remained unabated.

"The fish is about two and a half meters long and weighs 100 kilograms. It's locally raised in the net cage in the river, so it is very delicious no matter how you cook it," said a vendor.

In addition to the fish, markets are also adorned with a vast array of ingenious decorations, including diverse zodiac designs, signature clothing, and smart daily necessities.

Markets in Shanghai are hot with braised food and roasted seeds and nuts as the Shanghainese are buying pre-made food and snacks for their family reunion dinner on the Spring Festival eve.

"There are six people in my family. We are all old, so buying [pre-made food] is convenient for me. You can buy whatever you want," said a Shanghai resident.

The well-known Yu Garden, the largest, oldest and best-preserved traditional Chinese-style garden in this metropolis, is preparing a lantern festival for the Spring Festival, but many residents decided to get a sneak peek.

"I've seen many, but there are more. I didn’t have much time to look at them carefully as I was busy taking photos. This dragon is the best. Its color is beautiful. Maybe I will come back at night," said a Shanghai resident.
The Yu Garden Lantern Festival will start on Sunday evening and go on for 40 days.