Butterfly is a unique golden fish species in Rugao that features a tail resembling a butterfly. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

While export sales of golden fish remained flat this year due to the COVID-19 outbreak, domestic sales have doubled.

This has been good news to Shi Haowen and his wife, who are running a golden fish breeding cooperative in Dongchen town, Rugao.

Shi took over his father's golden fish business after graduating from university in 2015. He then visited golden fish farms across the country to learn from their experiences, with the aim of expanding his own business.

He has focused on breeding butterfly, a unique golden fish species in Rugao that features a tail resembling a butterfly.

Over the past few years, Shi has cultivated a dozen new types of butterfly-tail golden fish. Now, his cooperative not only breeds fish, but also offers technical services.

The fish he has cultivated have won many awards in domestic and overseas competitions for pet fish. His farm has also become a popular tourist spot in Rugao, attracting flocks of visitors.

As online business flourishes, Shi and his wife began selling golden fish through live streaming.

"We do live streaming or make some interesting videos. Businesspeople and aquariums who like the fish can directly place orders online. We have seen strong sales in this way," said Shi.