Three hundred Carassius auratus var. Dongting from Beimin Lake were collected to analyze their morphological traits, growth performance and muscle texture.The results showed that the coefficient of variation among the studied age groups were not significant, indicating that their characters were stable. By constructing the Von Bertalanffy equation, the asymptotic body length and weight were 308.41 mm and 1 075.00 g, respectively. The growth coefficient and theoretical growth starting age were 0.369 5 and –2.407 0 years old, respectively, and the turning point of body mass growth was at 0.17. Based on length-weight relationship, C. auratus var. Dongting grows rapidly at the age of 1-2, and the body size of C. auratus var. Dongting at all ages presents an equal proportion growth trend. The 2nd age group in this group identified by scales was the dominant group, accounting for 66.67% in population.The gender ration in the group 10∶1(male vs female). The muscle hardness and elasticity of C. auratus var. Dongting were (2 822.95± 556.97) g and 1.317±0.01 respectively. In conclusion, the C. auratus var. Dongting is a kind of C. auratus population with excellent characteristics and rapid growth in the young stage.