Officers from Hangzhou Customs inspect farm products to be exported overseas. [Photo/Hangzhou Customs]

More Hangzhou-grown specialties — from Qiandao Lake fish heads to Qiantang softshell turtles and Fuyang bamboo shoots — are making their way overseas, according to Hangzhou Customs.

From January to October, the city exported 9.79 billion yuan ($1.38 billion) of agricultural products, up 17.2 percent year-on-year.

Qiandao Lake fish heads are emerging as a global delicacy. Supported by full-chain customs services, local producers have improved processing and quality systems while benefiting from a fast-track inspection channel designed for fresh exports. After securing the Singapore market, exporters are expanding to Malaysia and Indonesia.

Qiantang softshell turtles are also gaining ground in Southeast Asia. To meet the challenges of exporting live aquatic products, customs experts provide on-site guidance, clarify quarantine requirements, and streamline clearance through a dedicated green channel, reducing loss rates and cutting clearance time to as little as half a day. Monthly exports now reach about 2 metric tons.

In Fuyang, bamboo shoots have become a key driver of rural prosperity. Digital platforms have simplified export filings, while flexible inspection appointments help producers meet shipping deadlines. Local processors are developing higher-value products such as vacuum-packed fresh shoots, dried shoots and canned varieties, expanding markets from Southeast Asia to Europe and Australia.

With supportive customs policies and rising global demand, Hangzhou's distinctive farm products are traveling further afield — bringing Chinese flavors to international markets and helping boost incomes across rural communities.

Fish is freshly harvested from Qiandao Lake. [Photo/Gunther Riehle]