In Qiaokou town, Wangcheng district of Changsha, central China’s Hunan Province, lotus blossoms are in full bloom in expansive ponds. Beneath the lotus leaves, lively crayfish dart about. Located along the Xiangjiang River and near Dongting Lake, Qiaokou town enjoys abundant water resources.
Cui Song, director of the Wenheyou Crayfish Industry Research Institute, is an aquaculture expert with years of experience in aquatic breeding and research. He said that the growth cycle of crayfish cultivated in lotus ponds perfectly aligns with that of lotus plants.
In 2019, Qiaokou town partnered with Hunan Wenheyou Crayfish Co., Ltd. to establish a demonstration base spanning over 1,000 mu (about 66.67 hectares) and launched the Wenheyou Crayfish Industry Research Institute. That September, Cui and his team arrived in Qiaokou and began developing crayfish farming techniques.
Aerial photo shows a crayfish-lotus farming base in Qiaokou town, Wangcheng district of Changsha, central China’s Hunan Province. (Photo courtesy of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Wangcheng District Committee)
"Based on Qiaokou’s favorable natural conditions, we developed a new farming model which not only enhances the taste of the crayfish, but also boosts villagers’ incomes," said Cui.
The farming model aligns crayfish cultivation with the lotus growth cycle. In spring, baby crayfish are introduced, with the first harvest occurring before the lotus buds emerge. During summer, as the lotus flowers are in full bloom, the second batch of crayfish thrives in the ponds. After the lotus flowers wither in autumn, nutrient-rich pond sediment helps fatten the final harvest. Beyond crayfish farming, villagers also fully utilize lotus seeds, leaves, and other byproducts to maximize resource use.
Photo shows off-season crayfish farmed at an ecological breeding base in Qiaokou town, Wangcheng district of Changsha, central China’s Hunan Province. (People’s Daily Online/Wu Xiwei)
The villagers also use different ponds for raising baby crayfish and for growing crayfish to market size. This separation improves both yield and quality.
Photo shows a lotus pond in Qiaokou town, Wangcheng district of Changsha, central China’s Hunan Province. (People’s Daily Online/Wu Xiwei)
From 2020 to 2024, the crayfish yield per mu of pond increased from 50 kilograms to 225 kilograms in the town. Qiaokou has 12,200 mu of ponds dedicated to lotus-crayfish cultivation, with annual crayfish production reaching 2,750 tonnes in 2024 and a comprehensive output value exceeding 250 million yuan (about $34.87 million), said Liu Shuai, Party chief of Qiaokou town.
原文地址：http://en.people.cn/n3/2025/0630/c98649-20334181.html