Other innovations in flavors include Snickers' "spicy" or "crispy seaweed" to meet the local consumers' preferences.

The sales of zongzi (seaweed wrapped rice balls) increased by 64.3 percent; gold and silver jewelry as well as sporting goods sales increased by 13.6 percent and 3.4 percent on a yearly basis, respectively.

"The export volume of our premade aquatic foods has increased every year, especially seaweed salad, which has always been popular," said Gai Quanhong, chairman of Dalian Gaishi Food Co, which is based in Lyushunkou district of Dalian, Liaoning province.

A leading company that specializes in prepared appetizers like seaweed, mushrooms and seafood salad, Gaishi has exported its products to more than 60 countries and regions, including Japan, the United States, Europe and Southeast Asia.

This has promoted the development of many agricultural and sideline industries in counties and county-level cities of Quanzhou, such as Tieguanyin oolong tea from Anxi, seaweed from Jinjiang and mandarin oranges from Yongchun, said the Quanzhou branch of Fujian Rural Credit Union.

There are also some other varieties of edible coffee cups that are made of rice paper, seaweed or potatoes.

In Sandu Gulf port area, cage farming of large yellow croaker, prawn, abalone and seaweed has grown into a mature business, and forms a complete production chain, having about 30,000 practitioners.