As China's endeavor to contain the spread of the COVID-19 continues, medical staff fighting at the front line, especially at the epicenter in central China's Hubei Province, have been in the limelight for weeks. 

Teams of medics coming from provinces near and far have melted the hearts of their fellow countrymen with their deeds. But when the stress of the mammoth task gets too much, sometimes all it takes is a taste of home to replenish their fighting spirit. 

At noon on February 20, medics coming from Shandong to join the coronavirus fight in the cities of Huanggang and Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, had something unexpectedly familiar for lunch – dumplings stuffed with mackerel. With a delicious and mild flavor and a pillowy texture, the fish dumpling is one of the most symbolic yet popular dishes in east China's Shandong Province.

The dumplings are reportedly among the third batch of supplies to arrive after a more than 20-hour trek from east China's Shandong Province to Mt. Dabie Regional Medical Center in Hubei Province early Thursday morning. In addition to the fish dumplings, the supplies also contain seafood, such as the frozen ready-to-eat sea cucumbers and squid rings, as well as tons of fresh apples, all donated by Rongcheng, a county-level city in Weihai, Shandong Province.

As the news makes the rounds on the internet, Chinese netizens speak highly of the deed, describing it an all-out effort to assist the epicenter at this very critical moment.

It is not the first time Shandong has helped. On February 17, the province donated frozen fish and shrimp dumplings, instant food and fresh fruits worth 400,000 yuan to Huangzhou General Hospital in Huanggang.

Three days later, 1.5 tons of steamed buns, one of the major staples in northern China, were transported to the city for medics and COVID-19 patients as donations. Along with the steamed buns were instant noodles, mutton, frozen dumplings and fresh fruits, donated by cities in Shandong Province. One of the major agricultural provinces, Shandong took the lead in donating 350 tons of fresh vegetables to Wuhan on January 28, with a promise to support the city with a daily supply of 600 tons of affordable, high-quality vegetables.

During the COVID-19 outbreak, however, Shandong is not the only supporter.

East China's Jiangsu Province reportedly sent 3,000 portions of salted duck, 10,000 steamed meat buns, and 10 tons of rice back the front line medics.

Recently, a photo captured by a member of Fujian's medical team at the epicenter of the outbreak, featuring broiled river eels, made people's mouths water. Rich in nutrition and easy to eat, the broiled eels, estimated to weigh over nine tons, were donated by Fuqing County in southeast China's Fujian Province after the local industrial association organized several eel producers to help.

Additionally, Cantonese chefs reportedly joined Guangdong's medical team in Hubei, carrying more than 10 tons of ingredients, with Zhanjiang chicken – a traditional dish originating in western Guangdong's Zhanjiang region – assorted aquatic products and soy-preserved radish included. 

Hospitals in northeast China's Liaoning Province, making light of traveling afar, brought some hometown dishes to their medical staff battling at the epicenter. From pork ribs stewed with sauerkraut to stewed chicken with mushroom, hometown flavors are a gentle reminder of care silently conveyed to the medics from their native land.

Apart from paying attention to what the medics eat, consideration was also given to their daily necessities. China's Guizhou and Jilin provinces prepared and transported a great number of heartwarming packs to Hubei. Specifically classified by gender and size, each pack contains daily necessities, such as toothpaste, shampoo, shower gel, even electric blankets, vacuum mugs, hot-water bags, sweaters and thermal underwear. Given the large portion of female medics, the packs also included sanitary napkins, adult diapers and hair dryers, among others.

Ever since the COVID-19 outbreak, China has been making every effort to ensure the supply of medical and daily necessities for citizens nationwide, especially in central China's Hubei Province. Local governments, associations, corporations and even individuals in other provinces across China have proactively donated large amounts of supplies so far, which include not only tons of produce and food but also a constant supply of disinfectants, protective gear, quilts and clothes.

According to the data released by Manbang Group, China's largest freight service provider, during December 13, 2019, and February 12, 2020, goods transported to Hubei Province were mainly building materials, coal and minerals as well as food and beverages. Since February 13, however, vegetables and fruits surpassed the former figures, accounting for the largest portion (approximately 10.4 percent) of all goods delivered to Hubei.

Though the data alone is detached, what it might implicate is touching. Aside from the overview, the platform even monitored a truck driver, who spent six days traveling 4,444 kilometers from northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to Hubei, to transport a full load of medicine that was urgently needed.

In times of crisis and viral epidemics, China's "pairing assistance" plan symbolizes the strength and will of a people determined to fight back as one.