Rows of dried black carp hang neatly, gleaming with an oily sheen. [Photo/Jiaxing News App]

Wangjiangjing town, nestled in Xiuzhou district, Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, is renowned as the "Hometown of Black Carp", with its dried black carp standing as a prized local delicacy.

Since ancient times, dried black carp has been a favored Spring Festival gift among Jiaxing locals. As the festival approaches, market demand surges and sales of dried black carp hit their annual peak.

The black carp used for this delicacy must be raised for three full years before harvest. Using traditional techniques, the fish are cured for three days and then sun-dried for four to five days, according to Gu Yueyue, general manager of Jiaxing Hehua Aquatic Products Co. To preserve the authentic flavor, the company employs seven experienced local artisans to oversee the entire process.

To reach more customers, the company has also embraced e-commerce and live-streaming sales. Combined with its offline presence, these efforts brought in over 10,000 orders for dried black carp in January alone.

Wangjiangjing has developed a comprehensive black carp industry chain and established a modern fishery industrial park. Today, the town produces over 7,000 metric tons of black carp annually and sells about 100,000 pieces of dried carp.

Moving forward, the town plans to enhance its traceability system and further standardize production.

Wangjiangjing's black carp not only brings prosperity to local fishermen but also carries the distinct taste of Jiaxing to dining tables nationwide.