Tangchi Chinese Softshell Turtle

Tangchi Chinese Softshell Turtle

　　Tangchi Town in Yingcheng City, Hubei Province, is located in the western hilly area of Yingcheng, with a population of 16,864 and covering an area of 50 square kilometers. Currently, the turtle (Chinese softshell turtle) farming area in Tangchi Town has reached 3,800 mu, with over 500 households engaged in turtle farming. The town produces more than 6 million jin (approximately 3,000 metric tons) of turtles annually, generating an output value of over 100 million yuan, making it the largest turtle farming base in Hubei Province.

　　　　Turtle farming in Tangchi Town has a history of nearly 20 years. In the past, the town utilized its natural hot spring resources to farm turtles, accumulating rich experience and mature techniques in turtle cultivation. In recent years, Tangchi Town has continuously expanded the scale of turtle farming, accelerated the upgrading of turtle breeds, and shifted its farming methods from hot spring farming to a combination of boiler greenhouse farming and conventional farming. This has made the taste of the turtles more aligned with public preferences.

　　　　The Chinese softshell turtle is a precious aquatic animal with high economic value. In China, turtles are widely regarded as a premium delicacy for consumption and are also used as a tonic food for dietary therapy. The history of eating turtles can be traced back to the Zhou Dynasty or even earlier. Turtle meat is delicious, highly nutritious, and rich in protein, especially the skirt—a particularly popular and tasty part. According to measurements, 100 grams of turtle meat contains 16.5 grams of protein. In addition, it is rich in various nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, iron, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, and vitamin A.