Zhangjiajie Giant Salamander

Zhangjiajie Giant Salamander

The Zhangjiajie Giant Salamander is a protected geographical indication product.

The Zhangjiajie Giant Salamander is a protected geographical indication certification trademark.

　　The "Zhangjiajie Giant Salamander" has been awarded the status of a National Geographical Indication Product. A geographical indication product refers to a product named after a specific geographical location, and produced under unique local soil, water quality, climate, production techniques, and craftsmanship conditions, which is officially approved to bear the name of that place.

　　I. Name of the National Geographical Indication Product

　　Zhangjiajie Giant Salamander

　　II. Scope of Protection

　　The protected production area includes: Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province, which comprises two municipal districts and two counties — namely Yongding District, Wulingyuan District, Cili County, and Sangzhi County.

　　III. History and Current Status of the Zhangjiajie Giant Salamander

　　(I) Historical Origins

　　Zhangjiajie City has a long history. Originally named Dayong, it was the site of the ancient Dayong Kingdom. During the Shang and Zhou dynasties, the area belonged to the Chu state; in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, it was part of the Qianzhong region of Chu. In 221 BC, Emperor Qin Shi Huang established commanderies and counties, creating the Qianzhong Commandery along the Lishui and Yuanjiang rivers — the first administrative division within what is now Hunan Province and one of the original 36 commanderies of China. Both districts and counties of present-day Zhangjiajie City were under its jurisdiction. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the entire region of Zhangjiajie was liberated. Dayong and Sangzhi counties were administered by the Yongshun Special District from October 16, 1949, to August 1952, before being transferred to the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Prefecture and later the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. Cili County remained under the administration of the Changde Special District until 1988. On May 18, 1988, with the approval of the State Council, the prefecture-level city of Dayong was established in the Zhangjiajie region. As the name "Dayong" was far less known than that of Zhangjiajie, China’s first national forest park located within its jurisdiction, the city was renamed Zhangjiajie on April 4, 1994. By 2008, Zhangjiajie had a total population of 1.6395 million and covered an area of 9,563 square kilometers, with its municipal government seated in Yongding District.

　　Zhangjiajie is a land rich in talent and natural beauty, where the long histories, simple folk customs, and unique cultural traditions of its multi-ethnic inhabitants blend harmoniously with modern civilization, forming a vibrant cultural tapestry. As a region inhabited by ethnic minorities, Zhangjiajie has, over centuries of historical development, seen the Tujia, Miao, and Bai peoples, together with the Han and other ethnic groups, create a distinctive ethnic culture. This earthly paradise, blessed with the essence of nature and the spirit of the universe, has nurtured countless outstanding figures over the ages. Among the most renowned is He Long, a proletarian revolutionary, military strategist, one of the founders of the People’s Liberation Army of China, and one of the Ten Marshals of China.

　　Zhangjiajie is a treasure trove of biological resources. The region hosts 850 species of woody plants across 106 families and 320 genera, as well as 146 species of vertebrates, including 56 nationally protected plant species and 40 nationally protected animal species. Rare tree species include ginkgo, dove tree, yew, and cherry blossom; valuable medicinal herbs include ganoderma, gastrodia elata, polygonum multiflorum, and eucommia; and rare wild animals include the giant salamander, unicorn (possibly referring to rare deer), serow, South China tiger, clouded leopard, macaque, and civet.

　　The area is also abundant in local specialties, such as giant salamander products, the “Three Treasures and One Unique Item,” kudzu root, and more.

　　The giant salamander has a history on Earth dating back 350 million years, earning it the title of “living fossil.” It is a Class II protected animal in China, possessing significant academic and scientific research value, as well as high medicinal, edible, and economic worth. Since the 1960s, due to environmental destruction, illegal hunting and trafficking, and the poor regenerative capacity of wild populations, the number of wild giant salamanders has sharply declined, facing the risk of resource depletion. In response, the People’s Government of Hunan Province established the Hunan Zhangjiajie Provincial Giant Salamander Nature Reserve in 1995. In 1996, the State Council, through Document No. [1996]113, approved the establishment of the Hunan Zhangjiajie National Giant Salamander Nature Reserve to protect the wild giant salamander resources and their habitats in Zhangjiajie.

　　In order to save this miraculous yet endangered protected animal, the local people of Zhangjiajie, drawing on valuable historical knowledge, embarked on a long and challenging journey of researching artificial breeding of the giant salamander. The history of giant salamander breeding among Zhangjiajie residents can be traced back to the Warring States period. It is a strain native to the Yangtze River basin, formed through long-term natural and artificial selection based on the region's natural and socioeconomic conditions. Zhangjiajie’s unique sandstone and karst landforms, favorable climate, abundant food sources, excellent water quality, and longstanding breeding traditions have produced the Zhangjiajie Giant Salamander — a product of exceptional nutritional value, unique taste, and premium quality.

　　(II) Current Status and Benefits

　　Since the 1990s, the Zhangjiajie Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government have leveraged the advantages of the original habitat’s giant salamander resources, ecological environment, rich bait supply, and high-quality water resources. They implemented strategies such as “enriching the city and benefiting the people through specialized giant salamander farming” and “promoting the rational development and utilization of resources to aid in their protection.” The giant salamander industry has been prioritized as a core project for poverty alleviation and a key sector in building a moderately prosperous society in Zhangjiajie. The Zhangjiajie Giant Salamander Industry Development Leading Group was established, along with a medium- to long-term development plan for the industry. Based on the city’s terrain, climate, and water conditions, an “enterprise + base + farmer” industrial model was adopted. Breeding areas were strategically planned according to local conditions, resulting in the establishment of commercial giant salamander breeding centers in 15 towns across Sangzhi County, Cili County, Yongding District, and Wulingyuan District. Additionally, a comprehensive utilization base for the Zhangjiajie Giant Salamander is currently under construction in the Zhangjiajie Economic Development Zone.

　　Currently, there are over 20 licensed breeding and propagation enterprises in Zhangjiajie, including one provincial agricultural industrialization leading enterprise and one high-tech enterprise. There are two giant salamander operation and utilization permits and one exhibition operation and utilization permit. These companies manage over 320 entrusted breeding households. The city stores a population of more than 153,000 giant salamanders, produces over 100,000 juvenile salamanders annually, sells approximately 49,000 second-generation salamanders per year, and generates an output value of 250 million yuan.

　　With the growth of the giant salamander farming industry in recent years, the Zhangjiajie Giant Salamander has gradually become an important part of the city’s tourism culture. The industry has also emerged as a key supporting sector of Zhangjiajie’s tourism industry and an essential component of its economic development. Owing to the rarity and uniqueness of Zhangjiajie Giant Salamander resources, its products are becoming high-end tourist souvenirs. The Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government are leveraging the city’s tourism resources to establish the giant salamander as a new symbol of Zhangjiajie.

　　(III) Reputation of the Zhangjiajie Giant Salamander

　　Among the over 20 giant salamander farming enterprises in Zhangjiajie, Zhangjiajie Jinai Biotechnology Co., Ltd. is the earliest private high-tech enterprise engaged in giant salamander breeding and propagation. Its breeding technology leads the nation, with beautiful breeding environments and high-quality cultivated salamanders. To further promote the Zhangjiajie Giant Salamander, the company secured special reports on multiple domestic and international media outlets, including CCTV-1’s Science and Technology Panorama, CCTV-2’s Wealth Story, Financial Hotline, CCTV-7’s Daily Agriculture, Making a Fortune, and Focus on Agriculture, CCTV-10’s Human and Society, Encyclopedia Exploration, and Japan’s TV Asahi. These features generated tremendous domestic and international response, sparking a wave of interest in giant salamander conservation and breeding. The company’s founder, Mr. Wang Guoxing, has been honored by CCTV as the “Father of China’s Giant Salamander.”

　　IV. Quality Characteristics of Zhangjiajie Giant Salamanders

　　The meat of the Zhangjiajie Giant Salamander is tender, delicious, and has a unique flavor. Its muscle tissue is soft, characterized by high protein content, low fat, and low cholesterol.

　　(I) Sensory Characteristics

　　1. Appearance. The breeding techniques for the Zhangjiajie Giant Salamander fully simulate its natural living conditions and habits. The hibernation instinct has not been artificially suppressed, allowing the salamanders to effectively metabolize stored body fat during hibernation. As a result, Zhangjiajie Giant Salamanders generally exhibit a robust and healthy appearance without any sense of obesity.

　　2. Taste. Due to the low fat content in the meat, the Zhangjiajie Giant Salamander offers a tender, delicious flavor with a unique taste and no greasy sensation.

　　(II) Physicochemical Characteristics

　　In fresh Zhangjiajie giant salamander meat: moisture content ≥75%, protein content ≥10%, essential amino acids ≥3%, fat content ≤5%.

　　(3) Differences from Other Giant Salamanders

　　Giant salamanders produced in other regions may have coarse meat, high fat content, or even a combination of these drawbacks.

　　1. Comparison of Protein Content in Zhangjiajie Giant Salamander Meat and Meat from Other Origins

　　Protein is the material basis of life—without it, there is no life. It is a substance closely linked to life and all forms of life activities. The level of protein content is an important indicator for evaluating the nutritional value of food. Compared to giant salamander meat from other distant origins, Zhangjiajie giant salamander meat has a slightly higher protein content, which is inseparable from the favorable natural farming conditions and abundant feed resources in Zhangjiajie.

　　2. Comparison of Muscle-to-Tail Fat Ratios in Zhangjiajie Giant Salamander Meat and Meat from Other Origins

　　In a healthy human body, the ratio of muscle to fat is very well-balanced. Excessively high fat content, commonly known as obesity, can lead to many diseases and harm health, while excessively low fat content can result in low blood lipids and reduced hunger tolerance, also affecting health. Similarly, a healthy giant salamander, like a healthy human, must maintain a balanced muscle-to-fat ratio. According to anatomical research on giant salamanders, almost all their fat accumulates in the tail, so the weight of the tail fat can be used to evaluate the overall fat content. Further health studies on giant salamanders indicate that the optimal muscle-to-tail fat ratio for healthy giant salamanders is between 14.5 and 15.5. Sampling studies of giant salamanders from various origins show that the muscle-to-fat ratio of Zhangjiajie giant salamanders is very reasonable and significantly better than that of those from other origins.

　　3. Comparison of Growth Rates of Zhangjiajie Giant Salamanders and Those from Other Origins

　　The typical farming cycle for commercial giant salamanders is three years—that is, starting from the hatching of the eggs, they must be raised for at least three years before they can be marketed as commercial products. If raised for too short a time, the size and weight of the salamanders will not meet the standards for commercial sale. After reaching this farming cycle, due to differences in farming methods and environments, giant salamanders from different origins may vary in size and weight. Focusing on the weight issue most concerning to farmers, we conducted sampling analyses of three-year-old giant salamanders from various origins. The results showed that three-year-old Zhangjiajie giant salamanders have slightly higher weights, indicating a faster growth rate.

　　4. Comparison of Fertilization Rates and Survival Rates of Larvae Between Zhangjiajie Giant Salamanders and Those from Other Origins

　　The vitality of sperm directly affects the fertilization rate, which in turn is determined by the sexual capability of the male individual—an important indicator of the male’s health and strength. For the giant salamander farming industry, producing healthy offspring is a key guarantee of successful farming, making the selection of high-quality broodstock crucial. During the breeding process, the fertilization rate and larval survival rate are important metrics reflecting the quality of the broodstock. High-quality broodstock directly determine the quality of the resulting commercial giant salamanders. By comparing the fertilization rates and larval survival rates of giant salamanders from different origins, we found that both the fertilization rate and larval survival rate of Zhangjiajie giant salamanders are significantly higher than those of other regions.

　　The protected production area for the Zhangjiajie giant salamander geographical indication product covers the entire administrative region of present-day Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province.