Anxin Baiyangdian Century Egg

Anxin Baiyangdian Century Egg

　　Anxin Baiyangdian Century Egg is a specialty from Baiyangdian, located in Anxin County, Baoding City, Hebei Province. Baiyangdian boasts abundant water resources, and the ducks raised along its shores are large and flavorful. The century eggs made from these duck eggs feature translucent, glossy bodies in a tea-brown hue, with deep green yolks and pine-branch-like patterns on their surfaces. They have a fragrant and delicious taste, making them an excellent choice as a drinking snack.

　　Baiyangdian is situated on the Central Hebei Plain and is a vast, scenic, and resource-rich natural water area. In addition to abundant aquatic and local products such as fish, shrimp, crabs, lotus, lotus root, reeds, and water chestnuts, it is also famous for a distinctive delicacy—preserved eggs. Also known as century eggs, they are a traditional export food of the province. Since they are mainly produced around Baiyangdian, they are also called “Baiyangdian Century Eggs.” For export, they are collectively referred to as “Hebei Preserved Eggs.”

　　Baiyangdian Century Eggs have a production history of over a hundred years. Legend has it that during the Qing Dynasty, many workshops were established locally to produce century eggs and salted duck eggs (also known as qingguo), which were sold widely in the Beijing, Tianjin, and Baoding areas. Baiyangdian Century Eggs are known for their large size, unique flavor, and rich nutrition. When peeled, the eggs have glossy, translucent, tea-brown bodies resembling amber, with elasticity and beautiful pine-branch patterns on the surface. Cutting into the egg reveals a deep green or variegated yolk with just the right consistency—not too runny—offering a fragrant aroma, delicious taste, and easy digestion. They are not greasy and pair excellently with alcohol, leading to the local saying, “No feast is complete without century eggs.”

　　Baiyangdian Century Eggs are made using a unique process from fresh duck eggs produced locally. Baiyangdian’s vast waters, mild and humid climate, and abundant aquatic life make it an ideal natural habitat for ducks, and the locals have a long tradition of duck farming. Ducks live in the shallow waters of the lake, feeding mainly on fresh food such as fish, shrimp, insects, snails, and aquatic plants, which not only leads to high egg production and large sizes but also ensures the eggs are rich in nutrients—providing high-quality raw materials for making century eggs.

　　In recent years, county-, commune-, and team-run duck farms and century egg processing plants have been established in the lake area, producing about 3 million high-quality century eggs annually, with over 1.6 million exported. Baiyangdian Century Eggs are known for their unique flavor, stable quality, and low lead content. In the 1983 national quality evaluation of century eggs, Baiyangdian Century Eggs ranked second in the country.

　　Baiyangdian Century Egg is a protected geographical indication product.