Qingyuan Black-Boned Goose

Qingyuan Black-Boned Goose

The Qingyuan Black-Boned Goose is a protected geographical indication product.

　　Raised free-range by ponds and fields, these geese feed on grass and grains, resulting in firm, flavorful meat. They have long been exported to Hong Kong, and top-quality roast goose dishes in Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and Shenzhen all use Qingyuan Black-Boned Geese as the prime ingredient—enjoying immense popularity. In addition, Qingyuan’s Biji tea, Pukeng tea, and Yuantan red tobacco are also well-known local specialties. (Qingyuan)

　　The meat is delicious and the birds are of moderate size, renowned across Guangdong and Hong Kong.

　　The Qingyuan Black-Boned Goose, also known as the Black-Brown Goose, gets its name from the black, mane-like feather band stretching from the crown to the back of the neck. Its beak and feet are black, the crown and hind neck feathers are brownish-black, the body feathers are dark brown, the sides of the neck and belly are white, the breast feathers are grayish-white, and the frontal base has a well-developed black wattles that protrude forward in males. The neck is slender and flexible, the eyes are large, and the irises are brown.

　　The breeding history of the Qingyuan Black-Boned Goose dates back a long time—it was first recorded in the *Qingyuan County Annals* in the third year of the Jianyan era of the Song Dynasty (1129 AD). In January 1977, at the “National Conference on the Identification of Superior Poultry Breeds” held in Huizhou, it was officially named the “Qingyuan Black-Boned Goose,” making it one of China’s fine local goose breeds.

　　Qingyuan’s unique climate conditions, the clear and sweet waters of the Beijiang River, and the lush, tender aquatic grass along its banks have nurtured the distinctive and superior qualities of the Qingyuan Black-Boned Goose. At the 1980 National Waterfowl Scientific Research and Production Collaboration Conference, experts from across the country spoke highly of the breed: “The Qingyuan Black-Boned Goose has tender, aromatic meat with a deliciously sweet flavor, smooth skin, and tender bones—making it especially suitable for Cantonese-style roast goose. It can also be used to prepare high-end gourmet dishes, serving as an excellent choice for hosting foreign and state guests.”

　　A purebred Qingyuan Black-Boned Goose reaches a live weight of 3–3.5 kg for males and 2.5–3 kg for females at 90 days. The meat is delicious, tender, and of moderate size, enjoying fame across Guangdong and Hong Kong. The biggest difference between the Black-Boned Goose and other breeds is its fine bones and tender meat, rich in protein, with less breast muscle and subcutaneous fat—making it non-greasy and aligning with the modern international preference for low-fat, high-protein meats. As early as the 1950s, the Qingyuan Black-Boned Goose had already gained renown both domestically and abroad, becoming a major exported breed to Hong Kong, Macau, and Southeast Asia.

　　Qingcheng District is the main production area and origin of the Black-Boned Goose. One of its key production zones, Henghe Street, has been designated by the Qingyuan Municipal People’s Government as a “One Village, One Product” development project. Major producing enterprises include Fengxiang Broiler Development Co., Ltd., Changji Breeding Farm, and Qingzhou Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Complex. The annual output of slaughtered geese in the district is about 5 million.

　　The Qingyuan Black-Boned Goose is a protected geographical indication product.

　　The protected geographical indication area for the Qingyuan Black-Boned Goose is defined according to the scope proposed in the *Letter on the Recommended Delineation of the Production Area for Qingyuan Black-Boned Goose* (Qingxin Government Letter [2007] No. 42) issued by Qingxin County, Guangdong Province. This includes the current administrative regions of five towns in Qingxin County: Taihe Town, Feilaixia Town, Shantang Town, Taiping Town, and Sankeng Town.