Weif River Whitebait

Weif River Whitebait

Weif River whitebait is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　Weif River whitebait is an exceptional specialty of Changyi. This species of fish lives only in a very small area where the freshwater from the northern part of the Weif River meets the seawater at the estuary, resulting in very limited production. Moreover, they can only be caught during spring and autumn each year, so even locals in Changyi cannot enjoy them at all times.

　　 There is also a beautiful legend about Weif River whitebait. Long ago, there was a boy and a girl who served the Dragon King in his Crystal Palace. The two had long grown tired of the lonely and cold life in the palace. One day, taking advantage of the Dragon King’s distraction, they secretly came to the human world. In the human realm, they admired the happy lives people led and wished to stay. Eventually, they decided to settle down and get married. When the Dragon King found out, he was furious and sent shrimp soldiers and crab generals to capture them. He decreed that they be banished from the Crystal Palace forever, transformed into completely transparent little fish, and forbidden to reproduce. They thought the Dragon King intended to make them extinct. To continue their lineage, the wife burst her belly to lay eggs and died. The husband followed her in death soon after. That’s why whitebait are only available in the same year they are born—after laying eggs by bursting their bellies, they die. Though this is just a legend and not to be taken literally, it reflects the deep affection people hold for these delicate fish.

　　 Nowadays, people can eat whitebait all year round, but most are frozen, freshwater-farmed ones. Compared to authentic Weif River whitebait, they are simply not in the same league. Weif River whitebait remains a beautiful dream, forever preserved in the depths of people’s memories.