Qing Shan River Group Fish

Qing Shan River Group Fish

　　Qing Shan River Group Fish is a famous specialty of Qing Shan County, Meishan City, Sichuan Province. This fish has an elongated body, with a conical snout that noticeably protrudes forward. Its mouth is ventral and crescent-shaped, with thick lips and small eyes. It has four pairs of slender barbels. The fish is scaleless, and the posterior edges of the spiny rays on both the dorsal and pectoral fins are serrated. The adipose fin is thick, and the caudal fin is deeply forked.

　　The scientific name of the River Group Fish is Leiocassis longirostris, with the English name: Longsnout catfish. It belongs to the order Siluriformes, family Bagridae, and genus Leiocassis. Commonly known as “catfish,” “River Group Fish,” “Fatty Tuo,” “Fatty King Fish,” or “Grey River Group Fish.” The fish is abundant in the Pingqiang Gorge within Qing Shan County, Meishan City, Sichuan Province. Di7

　　Pingqiang Gorge, also known as the ancient “Xiong’er Gorge,” is located 25 kilometers south of the city. It was formed by the Minjiang River cutting through the Longquan Mountain Range. The gorge consists of interconnected sections—Litou, Bei Gorge, Pingqiang, and Three Gorges—forming a cohesive whole, also referred to as the Mini Three Gorges of the Minjiang River. Its upstream and downstream sections face the Zhongyan scenic area within the county and the Leshan Giant Buddha, respectively. Lush forests cover the mountains on both sides, with jagged cliffs and unusual rocks dotting the verdant landscape. Di7

　　The river water in the gorge flows gently eastward like a ribbon, often dotted with fishing boats and small groups of waterfowl. On moonlit autumn nights, boating here allows one to fully appreciate the shimmering moonlight on the water and the picturesque riverscape. When Li Bai, the famed poet, set off “with sword in hand, bidding farewell to his homeland and loved ones to journey far,” he composed his timeless verse here: “Over Mount Emei, the moon is half round in autumn; its reflection enters the Qiange River’s flow. Tonight I leave Clear Creek for the Three Gorges — do you not see me heading down to Yuzhou?” This verse further enriches Pingqiang’s scenery with boundless poetic charm. Within the gorge lies the “Fish Nest,” home to the prized “River Group Fish,” whose tender and delicious meat is exceptionally rare. Di7