Introduction
Our koi adventure took us halfway around the world — from a memorable night in downtown Shanghai to one of the most extraordinary koi farms on the planet. Suxin Koi Farm in China is redefining what's possible in the koi world, and we had the privilege of experiencing it firsthand alongside great friends and fellow koi enthusiasts AJ from Fitz's Ponds and Tony from Water Barn Dubai.
The Scale Is Unlike Anything We've Ever Seen
Nothing could have fully prepared us for the sheer scale of Suxin Koi Farm. Only in its fourth or fifth year of operation, this farm is already pushing boundaries — both in the number of koi and their extraordinary size. Greenhouse after massive greenhouse, each one packed with world-class fish. The moment we stepped inside the first greenhouse, we knew this was something special.
What struck us immediately? The koi! The bodies, the scale, the sheer mass of these fish at such a young age was genuinely jaw-dropping.
Science Meets Koi Breeding
What makes Suxin truly unique is the philosophy behind it. Owner Mr. Juan is a scientist, and he's applied a rigorous, data-driven approach to koi breeding that you simply don't see elsewhere. A true catalogue book of each koi. Computer tracking. Algorithms that monitor each koi's size potential, lineage, and provenance.
Where koi breeding in Japan is a deeply traditional and artistic pursuit, Suxin brings a scientific precision to the craft — and the results speak for themselves. The Beni is inky and rich. The Sumi is dark and defined. The skin is pure white.
Unique Touches That Set Suxin Apart
One detail we'd never seen at any farm before: entire schools of Chinese loaches living in the ponds, naturally keeping the water clean by grazing on algae. It's a small thing, but it speaks to the thoughtful, systems-level thinking that defines everything at Suxin.
Checking In on Our Own Koi
One of the most exciting moments of the trip was seeing our own fish for the first time in person. Last December, we purchased six pieces remotely at auction here when they were Nisai. Now, as Sansai, they are massive — bigger than some four-year-old koi we have growing at other farms. The results from Suxin have been nothing short of incredible, and now we face the best kind of problem: do we ship them home, or leave them in China to grow even larger?
The Jumbo Tosai Auction
We were fortunate to be at Suxin specifically for a live jumbo Tosai auction — where the farm selects their finest young koi and offers them to buyers in person. We secured a number, bid on the fish we loved, and came away with a couple of phenomenal pieces that we're leaving in China to grow for another year.
There aren't many Westerners making it out to Chinese koi farms yet — and Suxin made us feel incredibly welcome. The hospitality matched the quality of the fish, which is saying a lot.
Final Thoughts
China is a new frontier in the koi world, and Suxin Koi Farm is leading the charge. If you're serious about koi — whether you're a hobbyist, a collector, or a pond professional — this is a farm worth knowing about. The scale, the science, the quality, and the vision behind Suxin are genuinely world-class.
We left inspired, excited, and with a couple of incredible new koi on the way. Stay tuned.