Sand ginseng

Sand ginseng

　　The prickly sea cucumber, also known as sand ginseng, is the most valuable among sea cucumbers.

The prickly sea cucumbers from Lianyungang are yellowish-brown in color, with four rows of large spines and four rows of small spines each. Prickly sea cucumbers cannot tolerate high temperatures and hibernate in summer, which is the best season for catching them. They are highly nutritious — every 100 grams of prickly sea cucumber contains 76.5 grams of protein, 1.1 grams of fat, 3.4 grams of inorganic salts, and 10.7 grams of carbohydrates. The human body can directly obtain amino acids such as cystine and arginine from them. Prickly sea cucumbers are delicious in taste and have long been regarded as a premium dish at banquets. Along with bird’s nest, they share a renowned reputation as nourishing tonics.

Now, the Qiansan Islands in Lianyungang District have become a sea cucumber farming base. During the winter and spring seasons, when the sea is calm, the dark, round sea cucumbers can be seen crawling among the rocks in the clear seawater between the islands — a truly picturesque sight and one of the scenic highlights of the islands.