Eating in China
A single connected narrow eel backbone segment with delicate attached ribs, fully shown on a plain plate.

Swamp-eel bones

鳝骨Shàngǔ

Bones separated from shan, the eel-like freshwater fish used in Aozao stock.

Type
Fish and seafood

A CLOSER LOOK

How to recognize it

Bones separated from shan, the eel-like freshwater fish used in Aozao stock.

In the kitchen

Aozao stock base.

The stock uses the bones rather than boneless flesh.

Ask about this ingredient

这道菜里有鳝骨吗?

Does this dish contain Swamp-eel bones?

EATING IN CHINA · THE APP

Get the app

Discover local dishes, understand their ingredients and flavours, and choose what you’d like to try. Explore vegetarian, vegan and kid-friendly food ideas for your China trip.

Food guides, ingredients and trip planning are free.

See what’s in the app