Chinese Perch

Chinese Perch

　　The Chinese Perch is found only beneath the Xiuye Bridge outside the west gate of Songjiang County in Shanghai. It is a specialty of Songjiang and has been famous throughout China since the Wei and Jin dynasties. Its flesh is tender and plump, delicious without any fishy smell, free from fine bone spines, and has an extraordinarily exquisite taste — making it one of the most delicious wild fish and one of China’s Four Famous Fish. The Chinese Perch has a spindle-shaped body, about twelve centimeters long and weighing no more than two or three taels. Famous dishes made with the perch include “Perch Sashimi,” hailed as one of the “Finest Flavors of the Southeast,” and Perch Soup.