Rock Bottom Giant Salamander

Rock Bottom Giant Salamander

　　   The Guizhou Giant Salamander is a specialty of Guiding County in Qiannan Prefecture, Guizhou Province. The Yanxia Township of Guiding County boasts abundant wild giant salamander resources. In July 2006, Guiding County was awarded the title of “Hometown of the Chinese Giant Salamander” by relevant national authorities.

　　   The giant salamander, scientifically named Andrias davidianus, earned its moniker from its cry that resembles a baby’s wail—“wū wā, wū wā.” It is a rare, unique amphibious tailed animal native to China, primarily inhabiting caves and underground rivers. With a history of 350 million years, it is often referred to as a “living fossil.” Historical records suggest that the giant salamander has anti-aging, beauty-enhancing, health-promoting, and disease-preventing properties. Modern scientific research indicates that its nutritional value far surpasses that of beef, venison, and pork, as it is rich in amino acids, easily absorbable proteins, and unsaturated fatty acids. Li Shizhen’s Compendium of Materia Medica highlights the giant salamander’s significant medicinal value. It contains abundant metallothionein, which helps eliminate free radicals and excess heavy metal ions from the human body, regulates microcirculation, and even provides auxiliary therapeutic effects against cancer. Additionally, the mucus secreted by the salamander’s skin is packed with high-purity collagen and various “bombesins,” making it an excellent material for cosmetic products.

　　   Guiding County is a typical karst region with uniquely suitable ecological conditions for the survival, growth, and reproduction of the giant salamander. In 2004, leveraging its superior transportation location and distinctive natural resources, Guiding County established the largest wild giant salamander breeding and domestication base in Southwest China in Yanxia Township. Giant salamander farming was listed as an industrial poverty alleviation project under the Ministry of Science and Technology’s “Prosperous People, Strong County” initiative and as a key agricultural industrialization project in the province. The breeding technology achieved national certification for second-generation offspring by the Ministry of Agriculture, and the farming scale reached 160,000 individuals. In July 2006, Guiding County was honored with the title of “Hometown of the Chinese Giant Salamander.”