In the lush fields of Bihu town of Lishui in East China's Zhejiang province, plump white jade snails leisurely hide beneath water spinach, munching away in the cool shade at the Hongchen white jade snail ecological farm.

The farm's manager, Xu Jianfei, stays busy monitoring the snails' growth and tending to their "meals". "These snails will grace the tables of French restaurants in the Yangtze River Delta by late summer. Orders are booming this year," Xu said. 

French-style baked snails, a renowned dish in Western cuisine, are gaining popularity in high-end restaurants in China. Previously, the market was dominated by imported French snails, known for their tender meat and high prices. However, domestic farmers have successfully bred white jade snails that match the quality of their French counterparts but at a lower cost, revealing significant market potential. 

Bihu town, with its mild climate, fertile lands, abundant water, and convenient transportation and labor, is ideal for white jade snail farming. In 2025, the provincial agricultural department included white jade snails in Zhejiang's first list of specialty products, bolstering the confidence of farmers like Xu with policy and financial support. 

Xu said that his farm spans nearly 20 hectares, with each hectare producing around 4,000 kilograms of snails, all distributed through cold chains to French restaurants and hotels in Shanghai and beyond, yielding a stable profit of over 4,000 yuan ($563) per hectare.