Ya Fish from Ya River

Last updated 2026-11-12 — Ya Fish is one of the famous specialties of Ya'an and a unique species native to the Central Asian highland mountainous region, also known as "Bingxue Fish." It is found in the Zhougong River section of the Qingyi River (Ya'an area), hence the name Ya Fish. The fish resembles a carp but has fine scales like a trout, with a plump body and tender flesh. Claypot Ya Fish is a local delicacy. Legend has it that during the Qing Dynasty, it was presented as a tribute to Empress Dowager Cixi, who praised it as “the meat of dragons and phoenixes…”