Chinese Giant Salamander from Hanwang Mountain

Chinese Giant Salamander from Hanwang Mountain

The Chinese Giant Salamander from Hanwang Mountain is a product protected under geographical indication.

　　The Chinese Giant Salamander from Hanwang Mountain is a specialty of Wangcang County, Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province. The ecological environment of Wangcang County is highly conducive to the growth, reproduction, and artificial farming of the Chinese Giant Salamander. Currently, there are 12 townships within the county engaged in artificial breeding of the species, making it also a provincial agricultural standardization demonstration area for the Hanwang Mountain Chinese Giant Salamander. The Hanwang Mountain Chinese Giant Salamander has been awarded geographical indication protection as a product.

　　The “Chinese Giant Salamander,” scientifically known as Andrias davidianus, is a Class II protected animal in China. Data shows that this rare species has survived since the time of the dinosaurs, 300 million years ago, and is the largest living amphibian in the world today, often referred to as a “living fossil.” It holds high academic and scientific research value, along with significant medicinal and culinary value. The ecological environment of Wangcang County is highly conducive to the growth, reproduction, and artificial farming of the Chinese Giant Salamander. Currently, there are 12 townships within the county engaged in artificial breeding of the species, making it also a provincial agricultural standardization demonstration area for the Hanwang Mountain Chinese Giant Salamander.

　　In recent years, relying on the native resources of the Chinese Giant Salamander from Hanwang Mountain, the local ecological environment, abundant bait, and superior water resources, Wangcang County has made the development of the Chinese Giant Salamander industry a core project for poverty alleviation and a key sector in building a moderately prosperous society. The county has continuously explored large-scale artificial farming of the salamander, adopting an industrial model of “company + base + farmer + standards.” Three breeding and propagation bases for commercially raised Chinese Giant Salamanders have been established across 12 townships including Huangyang Town, Gaoyang Town, and Shuanghui Town.

　　According to reports, the county has introduced three scale enterprises with permits for breeding, propagation, and domestication. Among them, Sichuan Hanwang Mountain Biotechnology Development Co., Ltd. is a private high-tech enterprise primarily focused on the farming of Chinese Giant Salamanders, alongside the deep processing and comprehensive development of related salamander products. It is a diversified agricultural industrialization leading enterprise integrating science, industry, and trade. The company has collaborated with Yibin Wuliangye Group to produce Wuliangye Hanwang Mountain Giant Salamander Divine Liquor, which has successfully launched and gained popularity among consumers at this year’s Western China International Fair.

　　Currently, the county stores over 50,000 Chinese Giant Salamanders, produces more than 30,000 juvenile salamanders annually, sells 10,000 second-generation salamanders per year, generating an output value of over 80 million yuan. This has benefited more than 200 farming households, achieving an average income increase of over 1,000 yuan per farming household.

　　The production area of the Hanwang Mountain Chinese Giant Salamander includes the administrative regions of 12 townships in Wangcang County, Sichuan Province: Huangyang Town, Gaoyang Town, Shuanghui Town, Zhengyuan Township, Yingcui Town, Gucheng Township, Mengzi Township, Guohua Town, Fuqing Township, Yanhe Township, Tianxing Township, and Wanjia Township.

　　 I. Species

　　Andrias davidianus (Chinese Giant Salamander).

　　II. Farming Environment Conditions

　　The farming environment must be quiet and dimly lit, with sufficient water supply, clean and unpolluted water quality meeting national aquaculture water standards. Water temperature should range between 15°C and 20°C, pH value between 6.5 and 7.5, and dissolved oxygen level ≥4mg/L.

　　III. Production Method

　　Within the production area, artificial farming is carried out by grading and separating salamanders by size and physical condition into different pools.

　　 IV. Farming

　　1. Stocking: The stocking density is 40 to 80 salamanders per m² during the juvenile stage, and 5 to 10 per m² during the adult stage. There should not be a weight difference of more than 50% between individuals in the same stocking group.

　　2. Feeding: The main feed consists of live small carp, crucian carp, and wild small fish.

　　3. Harvesting: The farming period lasts 4 to 5 years, with individuals weighing ≥1.5kg being manually or net-caught.

　　4. Environmental and Safety Requirements: Farming environments, as well as the prevention and control of diseases and epidemics, must comply with national regulations, and the environment must not be polluted.

　　V. Quality Characteristics

　　1. Sensory Characteristics: Dark brown back, light white or light gray belly, tender and delicious meat without greasy sensation, with a smooth and refreshing texture.

　　2. Physicochemical Indicators: Protein content ≥17%, amino acid content ≥14%, zinc content ≥16mg/kg.