Zong Shuxing

The Unforgettable Marine Battle: Harvesting Jellyfish

Every year, from late July to early August—the peak of the jellyfish harvest season—I visit the small pier at the home of my fisherman friend, Lao Shantou, in Xianren Island, a small fishing village in Gaizhou, Liaoning. There, I observe and photograph the intense scenes of fishermen harvesting jellyfish.

This brings back memories of years ago, when hundreds of boats would roar out into the sea together like ten thousand galloping horses—a spectacular sight that truly felt like a marine battle. Sadly, with the construction of modern piers, this traditional "marine battle" has all but disappeared. This method of harvesting jellyfish is a deeply traditional practice along the Yingkou coast, a rare cultural and folklore treasure on a global scale. Yet, such scenes have now vanished from sight.

Deeply drawn to this subject, I have continuously tracked and photographed this practice for over a decade. In particular, from 2011 to 2014, I spent several months each year living and staying by the sea. My days began at 3:00 AM, shooting continuously until the very last fishing boat returned late at night. To capture works of greater value, I wore the same waterproof rubber clothes and long rubber pants as the local fishermen, plunging into the sea with lifebuoys, boarding the vessels, and climbing onto horse-drawn carts to shoot. It is an arduous and dangerous process that is incredibly difficult for an outsider to capture, and only I truly know the hardships and perils I faced throughout those years.

Yet, dedication brings rewards. Through years of tracking and documentation, I became close friends with the captains, cart drivers, shopkeepers, fishermen, and wholesale buyers of Xianren Island. I compiled this traditional jellyfish harvesting process into a photographic series titled Galloping Waves: The Jellyfish Harvest, which was introduced abroad and won a gold medal at an international photography exhibition. Because of this work, I have been honored by many as the "Leading Photographer of the Jellyfish Harvest."

Liaoning Gaizhou is home to Xianren Island, a beautiful and mystical small fishing village. Legend has it that the Eight Immortals were so enchanted by this place that they lingered here, and it is also said to be the site where Zhang Guolao chased the Jade Rabbit, giving the island its name (Immortal Island). Xianren Island is a peninsula that extends into the sea, surrounded by water on three sides. Seen from afar, it resembles a rabbit lying by the seashore, which is why it is also called "Rabbit Island."

Surrounding this small fishing village is a coastal beach with gentle waves, clean water, and fine sand. Above all, what brings the greatest pride to the local fishermen is the jellyfish of Xianren Island, a bounty sustained by its unique marine and geographical environment.