A man in central China made an unusual discovery after finding gold particles inside a duck he was preparing for a meal, in an incident that has since gone viral online.
According to mainland media reports, the villager surnamed Liu from Longhui county in Hunan province stumbled upon the tiny gold fragments in February while slaughtering one of his ducks. After conducting a burning test, the particles were confirmed to be genuine gold, weighing about 10 grams.
The gold is estimated to be worth around 12,000 yuan (approximately RM7,800).
Liu’s father described the discovery as a sign of good fortune for the year ahead. The family believes the duck likely swallowed mud containing traces of gold while foraging near a nearby river that was once known for gold mining activities.
Experts note that gold cannot be digested or absorbed by the body and usually passes harmlessly through the digestive system. However, larger or impure pieces of gold could potentially cause intestinal blockages or poisoning in animals and humans.
Liu said similar discoveries have been reported in the village before, although none involved as much gold as his find.
Despite the excitement, some netizens have questioned the authenticity of the discovery. The Longhui County Natural Resources Bureau told Jiupai News that professional verification is still needed to confirm whether the particles are indeed gold.
Officials noted that the find is not entirely impossible, as villagers reportedly recovered more than 10 grams of gold while washing sand along the same river last year.
The Chenshui River, which flows through Longhui county, was previously known for gold deposits. From the 1970s until the 1990s, the area experienced a local gold rush before authorities banned private mining operations.
Under Chinese law, all underground resources, including minerals and cultural relics, belong to the state. Authorities said determining the ownership of gold discovered in such circumstances could be complicated.
Interestingly, Liu’s discovery mirrors a historical practice from the Tang dynasty (618–907), when farmers reportedly collected gold particles from the droppings of ducks and geese.
The story quickly gained traction on mainland social media, where the topic has amassed more than 10 million views.
Some users responded humorously, with one joking: “I need to know the exact location of this river within a day. I want to raise 1,000 ducks there.”
Another commented: “This duck must be repaying Liu’s family.”
A third added: “The other ducks must be very nervous now.”
As of March, gold prices in China range between 1,140 yuan and 1,190 yuan per gram (around RM740 to RM770 per gram).
Amid economic uncertainty, many Chinese households are increasingly turning to gold as a safe investment. Some white-collar workers are investing in gold-linked funds, while younger consumers are buying affordable and innovative gold products.
During the recent Spring Festival, a woman in Chengdu even transformed six grams of gold jewellery into decorative golden nail art, reflecting the growing fascination with the precious metal.
