Liangzi Lake River Crab

Liangzi Lake River Crab

Liangzi Lake River Crab is a protected geographical indication product.

Liangzi Lake River Crab is an agricultural geographical indication product.

　　Wuhan Liangzi Lake River Crab is raised in an all-natural ecological environment and is one of only two origin-protected products in China.

　　Wuhan Liangzi Lake River Crab is highly nutritious, containing a variety of vitamins. Its vitamin A content is higher than that of other land or aquatic animals, vitamin B2 is 5–6 times that of meat, 6–10 times that of fish, and 2–3 times that of eggs. The levels of vitamin B1 and phosphorus are 6–10 times higher than those of common fish. Each 100 grams of edible crab contains 17.5 grams of protein, 2.8 grams of fat, 182 milligrams of phosphorus, 126 milligrams of calcium, and 2.8 milligrams of iron. In addition to being rich in calcium, the crab shell also contains astaxanthin and other pigments.

　　“Ancient poetry thrives in Jiangxia, while crabs grow plump by Liangzi Lake.” Two years ago, Yu Qiuyu improvised a poem at the opening ceremony of a cultural festival, greatly enhancing the fame of Liangzi Lake crabs. Liangzi Lake is the second largest lake in our province, with two-thirds of its surface area located within Jiangxia District. The lake water is clear, meeting Class II water quality standards. The crabs produced here are large, with white bellies, tender meat, and delicious flavor—comparable to Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs. In 2004, the “Liangzi” brand Liangzi Lake River Crab was granted origin protection status, and its trademark has since been awarded the titles of “Famous Trademark of Wuhan City” and “Famous Trademark of Hubei Province.” The product is highly favored by consumers, sold nationwide, and exported to seven countries and regions including South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, as well as Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, generating annual foreign exchange earnings of $5 million.

　　Liangzi Lake River Crab contains 18.09% protein and 9.71% fat per 100 grams of crab meat, along with a wealth of vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and various free amino acids. It is especially rich in aspartic acid, glutamic acid, arginine, and lysine. The meat is tender, flavorful, and highly nutritious, earning the reputation of “when river crab graces the table, all other flavors pale.” Additionally, the crab’s head and thorax contain a large amount of highly nutritious crab roe, which boasts a rich, enticing aroma that stimulates the appetite. As a renowned and internationally acclaimed aquatic delicacy, it is highly popular in both domestic and international markets and is one of China’s major seafood exports for foreign exchange earnings.

　　Geographical Scope

　　The farming area for Liangzi Lake River Crab includes: Shu’an Street, Shanpo Street, Wulongquan Street, Liangzi Lake Scenic Area Management Committee, Wulijie Street, Fasi Street, Anshan Street, Jinkou Street, Zhengdian Street, Miaoshan Office, Daqiao New Area Office, and Zanglongdao Office under the jurisdiction of Jiangxia District, Wuhan City, Hubei Province. The total farming area spans 13,866.67 hectares, with an annual production of 1,500 tons of Liangzi Lake River Crab. Its geographical coordinates are between 30° and 33°6' east longitude and 114°12' and 115°48' north latitude.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Features: Liangzi Lake River Crab is a well-known Chinese mitten crab in China. The average size is about 200 grams per crab for males and 150 grams per crab for females. The Chinese mitten crab has four distinctive features: First, its green back—Liangzi Lake River Crabs have a bluish-gray shell that is smooth and glossy; second, its white belly—the underside close to the mud is crystal-clear and snow-white; third, its yellow-white color—the claws and four pairs of walking legs have golden-yellow fuzz on their edges; fourth, its golden claws—the tips of the four pairs of walking legs are golden, sturdy, and strong. When placed on glass, the crab can stand firmly on all eight legs with its claws raised, and mature crabs have slightly raised thoraxes, indicating a plump and richly fatty body. 2. Internal Quality Indicators: Liangzi Lake River Crab is highly nutritious, containing a variety of vitamins and abundant amino acids. The content of aspartic acid is ≥1%, arginine ≥0.5%, and glutamic acid ≥1.1%. Overall, the average amino acid content is ≥9.3%. Therefore, Liangzi Lake River Crab is nutritious, delicious, and considered a premium variety of freshwater crab. 3. Quality and Safety Requirements: The quality of Liangzi Lake River Crab products complies with the “Pollution-Free Food” standard NY5073-2001.