An annual festive event ahead of Chinese Lunar New Year: citizens in east China’s Zhenjiang, Jiangsu queue for barrels of soy sauce. /VCG photo

A four-day campaign launched by time-honored brand Hengshun started on Saturday morning, inviting all local citizens to purchase as much soy sauce as they need. /VCG photo

Hengshun is famous for making aromatic vinegar, while only locals know that its soy sauce is no less appetizing than the vinegar. /VCG photo

Young and old love to line up before dawn, waiting to fill their barrels and bottles with soy sauce. /VCG photo

In a makeshift tent, 12 jars containing 1,000 jin (one jin equals 0.5 kilograms) of soy sauce each are surrounded by workers and buyers. Mr. Song, who has purchased the festive soy sauce for six years in a row, said he brought 30 barrels in his car, planning to buy 180 jin for himself and the family. /VCG photo

Two performers at Hengshun campaign site. /VCG photo

Braised pork, or Hongshaorou, is a very popular delicacy made with soy sauce. /VCG photo