Mandarin fish from Qingshui River

Mandarin fish from Qingshui River

　　Mandarin fish from Qingshui River

　　The town of Zouxu in Binyang County is situated in the karst terrain area of northern Binyang. The Qingshui River, originating from the Daming Mountains, winds its way through the region. With its picturesque landscapes, unique mountains, hidden caves, and emerald waters, the area attracts many visitors. The river is rich in a variety of aquatic life, including eel (white eel), catfish, softshell turtle, yellow mud carp, and river shrimp. These aquatic products are well-known for their delicious and fresh taste, among which steamed white eel enjoys the best reputation.

　　Steamed white eel is sweet, tender, and incredibly flavorful, thanks to its unique cooking method: the white eel is cut into pieces, placed on a plate, seasoned with ingredients like sour plum, ginger, and scallions, and then steamed. Most importantly, the preparation of white eel must use water from the Qingshui River—otherwise, the taste will be vastly inferior.

　　Restaurants and eateries near the Qingshui River are all famous for their fish dishes, commonly referred to as "fish restaurants." Travelers and merchants passing through Binyang all consider tasting "Zouxu fish" a delightful experience. But the most appealing is the Mandarin fish from Qingshui River. The clear, green waves of the Qingshui River nurture many kinds of fish, and the Mandarin fish is one of them. The Qingshui River Mandarin fish is plump and tender. When cooked by skilled chefs, it becomes an irresistible dish with perfect color, aroma, and flavor. No wonder that in the 1990s, this small town with a population of less than 7,000 had over thirty fish restaurants, which were often fully booked. Many diners say: the Qingshui River Mandarin fish has delicate meat and a refreshing taste. Especially for truck drivers who usually get tired of eating chicken, pork, or beef, lose their appetite, and feel lethargic while driving, having just ten or eight pieces of Qingshui River Mandarin fish along with two big bowls of rice drenched in fish soup leaves them feeling full and energized. This is probably the main reason why drivers from all over love the Qingshui River Mandarin fish from Zouxu so much.

　　In recent years, with the opening of the Liunan Expressway, which has diverted much of the traffic, many fish restaurants have relocated to places like Liuzhou, Nanning, downtown Binyang, and Litang to follow the flow of customers. However, the reputation of the Qingshui River Mandarin fish from Zouxu has grown even more. Despite this, five or six long-established fish restaurants in Zouxu, such as the “Zhangwu Fish Restaurant” and “Liunan Fish Restaurant,” remain in the area and continue to attract large crowds of diners. Many visitors specifically come from cities like Nanning and Liuzhou just to savor the “Qingshui River Mandarin fish.” After visiting Baxian Rock, praying at the Goddess Temple, and taking a boat ride to enjoy the beautiful scenery along the Qingshui River (or even swimming in the river to feel its charm firsthand), they often conclude with the exclamation: “The mountains are beautiful, the waters are beautiful, but the fish are even better!”