Rugao ham, a local delicacy of Rugao, a county-level city of Nantong in East China's Jiangsu province. [Photo/WeChat account: rugaofabu]

Rugao ham, a local delicacy of Rugao, was recently approved as a national geographical indication protection product by the National Intellectual Property Administration.

Rugao ham is made from the hind legs of the Dongchuan pig, a local breed of pig, using a traditional production process. It is one of three famous hams in China, alongside Jinhua ham from Zhejiang and Xuanwei ham from Yunnan.

Rugao ham has a long history that can be traced back to the Xianfeng period of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), when the first ham stack opened in Rugao. Since then, Rugao ham has developed into an important industry in Rugao and has won many international and domestic awards.

Rugao also has another two national geographical indication protection products, including Rugao yellow wine, which is a type of rice wine.

Geographical indication products are products that are named after their place of origin, and whose quality and reputation depend on the natural and human factors of that place. Protecting these products can help preserve traditional culture, promote regional industries, and increase the incomes of farmers.