Leiyang Dahe Grass Carp

The National Intellectual Property Administration unveiled a list of newly-approved national-level geographical indication (GI) products in December 2025. Two Hunan products were on the list—Hengyang Taiyuan black lotus seeds and Leiyang Dahe grass carp. 

GI serves as a certificate for product quality and regional characteristics. A product that originates from a particular geographical area, where its quality, reputation, or other characteristics are fundamentally attributable to the natural and cultural factors in that area, may be approved as a GI product and named after the geographical location. 

The production area of the newly-approved Leiyang Dahe grass carp covers 49 administrative villages across five towns and townships of Leiyang County-level City, including Dahexu Township and Tanxia Township.

As the only national-level GI fish product in Hengyang City, the Leiyang Taihe grass carp has long captivated numerous diners with its tender texture, sweet flavor, and rich nutritional value. Such distinctive quality is attributed to the unique purple shale in the Dahexu Township area, as well as the collaboration between government and enterprises.

In recent years, the township has allocated special funds to dredge and reinforce 150 kilometers of ditches and integrated over 20 industrial projects to prioritize and support aquaculture development. Through the "company + association + farmer household" model, the township has carried out ecological upgrading of more than 70 fish ponds.

The local enterprises have made persistent and innovative efforts to guarantee the quality of the grass carp. 

"We have established 15 standardized breeding bases and implemented a model of unified supply of fry, breeding standards, procurement, and sales. We have also set up a 'one fish, one code' traceability system to ensure full-process traceability," said a spokesperson of the local aquaculture association and fishery company.

Chinese source: hunantoday