Carps leaping over Longmen to become dragons is a legend handed down in China for generations. It expresses the endeavor to make a success of oneself, and the very carps here refers to the Yellow River Carp in Hejin. Hejin is the intersection of Yellow River, Luo River and Wei River. At this place, the river course is open and the flow velocity is gentle; the river carries the sediment and debris of the Loess Plateau, so the water here is relatively rich in nutrients, and quite suitable for the fish growth.
Yellow River wild carp, commonly known as "red tail carp", is quite different from carps in other places, with the characteristic of long and flatted body, orange tail fins, a red line on the back, yellow belly, regular size scale, two pairs of whiskers under its mouth. It is a delicacy for entertaining guests and has been listed as one of the top four fish in China. The Yellow River carp is well-known for its rich nutrient in calcium and phosphorus, large-size with delicious meat quality. It has the functions of nourishing the lung with the spleen, calming the liver and nourishing the blood. Having carp frequently has certain curative effect on liver, eye, kidney, spleen and other diseases. It is also a high-level healthy food for pregnant women with high economic value.
