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URUMQI, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) — The Flaming Mountains in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region loom heavy in the constant autumn heat, yet, surprisingly, rows of cobalt-blue barrels provide cool temperatures for fish more suited to alpine lakes.

Snow-melt percolates through ancient Karez wells, resurfacing in Bazha Village of Shanshan County at temperatures no higher than 19 degrees Celsius — even in summer. Cold-water species like perch and trout, once absent, now thrive in these Gobi Desert microclimates.

Such facilities are also the result of Xinjiang’s vigorous development of its water-based industries.

Bazha, home to the breeding base of the Shiquan Cold-Water Fish Breeding Cooperative, is nestled in the Turpan Basin, a region enduring over 100 days of scorching heat exceeding 35 degrees Celsius annually, with summer extremes on record reaching 49.6 degrees Celsius. Ground temperatures frequently soar to 70 degrees Celsius, earning the basin its nickname: Land of Fire.

Yet, paradoxically, the base thrives as a cold-water fish breeding hub, cultivating species like river perch and largemouth bass that typically inhabit cooler northern latitudes and higher altitudes, where water temperatures do not exceed 20 degrees Celsius.

Bazha’s secret lies in the earth. Meters away, ancient Karez wells — underground aqueducts carved by hand centuries ago — collect melted ice and snow that has flowed down from the Tianshan Mountains. By the time it trickles into the barrels, the water has not been warmed by the desert heat. No machines hum and no electricity is needed. Gravity alone keeps the fish cool.

“The breeding water circulates approximately every five hours, ensuring that even in the hot summer, water temperatures do not exceed 19 degrees, and they stay above 15 degrees in the winter. It meets the growth requirements of cold-water fish perfectly,” said Song Zhijun, head of the cooperative.

Over 210 tonnes of premium cold-water fish from the Turpan Basin were sold from January to June this year. Rainbow trout and river perch are now distributed to inland cities like Xi’an, port cities such as Shanghai, Qingdao and Dalian, and even exported to overseas markets including Russia and Japan.

Cold-water fish generally have longer growth cycles and are more sought-after in terms of taste, giving them a high economic value compared to other types of fish. But thanks to stable water temperatures, the land-based flow-through breeding model used in Turpan has led to shorter breeding cycles than those observed in natural bodies of water in places like Ili and Altay in northern Xinjiang.

“It usually takes three years for river perch in northern Xinjiang to grow from fry to marketable fish, but we only need 18 months,” Song said. “Fish won’t stop growing or refuse to eat due to excessively high or low water temperatures.”

Alongside the Karez wells, cold water also gushes from high-altitude springs in Turpan. Local companies have leveraged these precious cold water resources to develop land-based, circular ecological breeding practices in various locations. They are also engaged in the deep processing of cold-water fish products, gradually forming a mature industrial chain.

Breeding bases have also been opened between the foothills of mountains and oases, where natural water flows can be established. After flowing through these breeding bases, the Karez water and spring water is channeled back into irrigation canals.

There are no temperature-control costs, and no investment is needed to improve water quality, one local cold-water fish breeding company told Xinhua.

The Karez well system, recognized as one of China’s three great ancient engineering feats, exemplifies Turpan’s hydraulic wisdom in arid-zone water management over the centuries.

Now that tap water is widely accessible in households, the Karez wells serve mainly agricultural irrigation functions, and flow-through breeding is an ideal complement to agricultural water use.

Compared to traditional pond breeding yields, Turpan’s land-based flow-through breeding model can increase production 30-fold. And aquaculture does not increase water consumption — after fish breeding, the water is rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other elements, increasing its fertility, promoting crop growth and improving farmland output benefits.

“Irrigating grape fields with water that has been used for fish breeding can effectively improve the fertility of the fields, reduce the fertilizer input for fruit farmers, and enhance the quality of the grapes,” said Nan Qingyu, head of Turpan City’s aquatic technology promotion office.

In 2024, Xinjiang’s output of aquatic products totaled 192,500 tonnes. Relying on the region’s unique natural environment and supported by a series of technological advancements, aquatic products such as crabs, whiteleg shrimp, rainbow trout and Australian freshwater crayfish are gaining rising market favor.