China: Man slaughters duck, finds ₹1.62L worth of gold inside
What's the story
In a bizarre incident, a villager in Longhui County, Hunan province of central China, found gold particles inside a duck he had slaughtered. The discovery was made by a man surnamed Liu in February. The particles weighed about 10gm and were valued at around 12,000 yuan (approximately ₹1.6 lakh). A burning test confirmed they were real gold.
Cultural significance
Ducks were raised free-range near a river
Liu's father viewed the discovery as a stroke of good luck for the year ahead. The ducks were raised free-range near a river known for gold mining in the past. This led to speculation that they might have swallowed mud containing gold particles while feeding. Such discoveries are not uncommon in the area, with other villagers having found gold in ducks before, albeit in smaller quantities.
Historical context
River once known for gold mining
The Chenshui River, which flows through Longhui County, has a history of gold mining from the 1970s to the 1990s. The river was once a hotspot for gold seekers, and villagers used to wash sand from its banks to collect small gold particles. However, private mining was banned by the authorities later on. An official told The Paper that determining ownership of such finds remains complicated.
Investment trend
Gold as an investment option
As of March, gold prices in China hovered between 1,140 yuan and 1,190 yuan per gram. With economic uncertainties, many Chinese families are looking at gold as a safe investment option. While some white-collar workers are investing in gold-linked funds, younger shoppers prefer inexpensive and trendy gold items. During the Spring Festival celebrations this year, a woman in Chengdu turned 6g of gold jewelry into stunning golden nail art.