Daqing recently expanded its family of nationally recognized geographic indication products to ten, welcoming the newly approved Lianhuanhu Bighead Carp and Shirengou Carp. Each of these ten products carries a unique story rooted in the region's natural endowment and cultural heritage.
A geographic indication product is essentially a testament to the principle that a region's unique natural conditions and cultural legacy shape the distinct quality and reputation of its produce. It serves as a national-level endorsement of product excellence, certifying both superior quality and the deep connection between the product and its place of origin.
In recent years, Daqing has intensified its efforts in cultivating, protecting, and promoting geographic indications, accelerating the transformation of local high-quality specialty agricultural products into nationally recognized symbols of excellence. To date, the city has secured ten such designations from the China National Intellectual Property Administration, with eight added since the beginning of 2025. Additionally, thirty enterprises have been authorized to use the official geographic indication logo, marking a significant breakthrough in zero-prior usage.
These designations encapsulate local craftsmanship and nature's generosity. Here is a closer look at the ten distinctive products that define Daqing's agricultural identity.
Lianhuanhu Bighead Carp (New Addition)
Hailing from Dorbod County, this fish is recognized as one of Heilongjiang's "Top Ten Regional Specialty Fish" and has been included in the first batch of national agricultural regional public brands. Renowned for its white, tender, and flavorful flesh, it is naturally grown with no earthy taste. The Lianhuanhu bighead carp features a laterally compressed body, a notably large head, a wide terminal mouth, and a slightly upturned lower jaw. Its gill rakers are fine and leaf-like, its scales are small, and its body is grayish-black on the upper half with a whitish belly, accented by irregular light yellow and black spots. The production area covers the Lianhuanhu waters of Dorbod Mongol Autonomous County, located at coordinates 123°59' to 124°15' East and 46°30' to 47°03' North.
Shirengou Carp (New Addition)
Another Dorbod specialty, the Shirengou carp is spindle-shaped with a raised back behind the head and a small head. It has two pairs of barbels and a horseshoe-shaped, sub-terminal mouth with the upper jaw overlapping the lower. Its back is generally dark, with golden-yellow sides and tail fin lower lobes, and a white belly. The fish is prized for its high-quality, low-moisture flesh that is tender and delicious. The Shirengou waters experience a north temperate continental monsoon climate, with an average elevation of 135–144 meters and a frost-free period of about 148 days. The production area includes three natural stocking grounds and three artificial channels in the Shirengou waters of Dorbod County, situated between 123°58'00" to 124°06'17" East and 46°15'20" to 46°17'55" North.
Gulong Millet
Originating from Zhaoyuan County, Gulong millet features plump, round grains averaging 0.8 millimeters in diameter, with a deep yellow hue and excellent palatability. When steamed, the grains are sticky and cohesive without crumbling; when boiled, they remain intact with high viscosity and are rich in essential amino acids. Historical records indicate that Gulong millet was a tribute item to the imperial court during the Liao and Qing dynasties. According to the Zhaoyuan County Annals, in the fourth year of Emperor Kangxi's reign (1665), the millet was introduced to the palace via postal routes and became a royal tribute grain. The production area spans seven townships in Zhaoyuan County, including Gulong, Xinzhan, Minyi, Maoxing, Yishun, Daxing, and Toutai, located between 123°57'00" to 125°45'00" East and 45°23'00" to 45°59'00" North.
Lianhuanhu Mandarin Fish
This Dorbod delicacy has a laterally compressed body with a raised back, a pointed head, a large mouth, and large eyes. It features fine scales, a truncated tail fin, and a dorsal fin with a spiny front half that contains toxins and a soft-rayed back half. Its body is a greenish-bronze with a metallic sheen, brownish-yellow sides, and an off-white belly, adorned with irregular dark brown blotches. The flesh is tender, plump, and delicious, with few bones and no internal gallbladder. The production area encompasses 18 lakes, 2 ditches, and 3 artificial channels within Dorbod County, including Yamenshi Pao, Amuta Pao, Tiehala Pao, and others.
Lianhuanhu Spotted Mackerel
Another Dorbod specialty, the Lianhuanhu spotted mackerel has a growth cycle of 2–3 years, reaching weights of 100–250 grams. It has an elongated, compressed body with a small head, large eyes, and an upturned mouth. The fish is distinguished by a fully developed keel from the pectoral fin base to the anus, a short dorsal fin with a robust spine, and a deeply forked tail fin. Its back is bluish-green with a slight yellow tint, transitioning to silvery-white on the sides and belly, with small black spots on the upper half of the body. The production area covers the same 18 lakes, 2 ditches, and 3 channels as the Lianhuanhu mandarin fish.
Dorbod Xiaohaozhi Fangfeng (Saposhnikovia Root)
This medicinal root, native to Dorbod, is long and cylindrical, measuring 20–30 centimeters in length and 0.6–1.5 centimeters in diameter, with a yellowish-brown surface marked by wrinkles and a hairy tip. It is light, loose, and breaks easily, with a brownish-yellow bark and yellow wood, emitting a distinctive odor and a slightly sweet taste. Dorbod boasts abundant wild medicinal resources, including 129 species such as Saposhnikovia, licorice, and bupleurum, with total reserves reaching 100 million kilograms. The area, historically known as "Hao City" or "Xiaohaozhi," lends its name to this root. The production area spans 11 townships and 79 villages across Dorbod, including state-owned farms and forestry centers.
Talaha Rice
From Dorbod, Talaha rice features uniform, pearly-white grains that are hard and translucent, with a short-round or elliptical shape. When cooked, it releases a rich aroma, resulting in firm, glossy grains that are smooth, slightly sticky, and pleasantly chewy, maintaining integrity even after reheating. The production area covers ten villages in Talaha Town, Dorbod County, including Shanwanz, Anping, and Jiujiazi.
Zhaozhou Large Sunflower Seeds
A specialty of Zhaozhou County, these raw seeds have a jet-black hull and a distinctive local aroma, with a kernel yield exceeding 50%. They are elongated and uniformly large, averaging 2.5–3 centimeters in length. Roasted seeds offer a crispy, fragrant taste that is rich without being greasy, with a kernel yield of over 60%. Zhaozhou County has leveraged its full industrial chain—from planting bases to production workshops to online marketing—to create immersive experiences such as "base tours, production observation, cultural experiences, and product tasting." Since 2025, it has hosted 136 tour groups and 11,750 visitors. The production area encompasses the administrative regions of Zhaozhou Town and other townships within Zhaozhou County.
Shuangyu Millet
From Datong District, Shuangyu millet features plump, golden-yellow grains averaging 0.8 millimeters in diameter, with a uniform shape. When steamed, it offers a rich fragrance, soft texture, and cohesive structure; when boiled, it maintains high viscosity and intact grains. The primary cultivation varieties include the local high-quality Chagu series and Jingu. The soil in the base area is fertile black calcium and yellow sandy soil, rich in organic matter at about 3%, with a pH of around 7. The production area covers Shuangyushu Township, Laoshan Tou Township, Linyuan Town, and Taiyangsheng Town, located between 124°13' to 125°7' East and 45°48' to 46°27' North.
Baxibo Mung Beans
Native to Dorbod, Baxibo mung beans are plump, glossy, and emit a signature fragrance, earning them the local moniker "Baxibo Green Pearls." The cultivation area lies in the western Songnen Plain, characterized by low-lying terrain, neutral-to-alkaline soil rich in minerals. The planting history here dates back to the Song and Liao dynasties over a millennium ago. In 2008, an iron plow from that era was unearthed at Shatian Gela site in Baiyinuole Township, with identifiable mung bean stems and leaves on it, confirming that mung beans were cultivated here as early as the Song-Liao period. The production area spans seven townships in Dorbod, including Baiyinuole, Yixin, and Ke'ertai.
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