• Real gold found inside a duck in Hunan province
• The incident sparks debate and is under official review

A resident from central China, named Liu, discovered gold particles inside a duck’s stomach while slaughtering it in Longhui County, Hunan province, in a rare event reminiscent of historic gold rushes.

A burn test confirmed that the particles were real gold, weighing about 10 grams and valued at approximately 12,000 yuan (around 1,800 USD), according to local media outlet Xinwenfang.

Liu explained that the duck, raised near a river once known for gold mining, likely ingested mud containing gold particles.

He added that the body usually does not digest gold, which passes through the digestive system harmlessly, although larger or contaminated pieces can cause intestinal blockages or poisoning for both animals and humans.

Liu’s discovery is not entirely unique; he noted that other locals have previously found gold in ducks, but none discovered as much as he did.

Nevertheless, some internet users questioned the authenticity of the incident.

The Longhui County Natural Resources Bureau stated that verifying the gold requires testing by a specialized institution, noting that such discoveries are possible and that locals found more than 10 grams of gold while washing sand in the same river last year.

The Chenshui River runs north to south and was a gold discovery site from the 1970s to the 1990s, sparking a local gold rush before the government banned private mining.

Authorities confirmed that all underground resources, including minerals and relics, belong to the state under Chinese law, making ownership of the gold found in the duck difficult to determine.

Liu’s rare discovery also recalls an ancient practice from the Tang dynasty (618–907), when farmers collected gold particles from the droppings of ducks and geese.

The incident quickly went viral on Chinese social media, making it a widely discussed topic.