Sesame swordfish

This swordfish, also Mystus guttatus, is only found in the Hongshui River basin and is an extremely prized freshwater fish. It gets its name because of the body shape and the sesame-like spots. The adult fish normally weighs 3 - 5 kilograms, with the largest one reaching 15 - 20 kg.

This fish is the most popular dish in Tian’e county, thanks to its sweet tender flavor, lack of toxicity, high fat content, and nourishing qualities. The fish is normally found in the Hongshui and Buliu rivers and other large rivers in the county. Because of the difficulty in breeding and farming the fish, the annual take is less than 10 tons, hence the precious nature of the fish.