Zhenjiang River Crab

Zhenjiang River Crab

Zhenjiang River Crab is a product certified with a Geographical Indication for Agricultural Products.

　　Zhenjiang River Crab is a specialty of Danyang, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province.

　　Zhenjiang River Crab boasts a long and rich cultural history. From the late Three Kingdoms period through the Yuan and Qing dynasties, there are historical records about it in Zhenjiang. The crab culture has preserved tradition while evolving with the times. This culture has helped boost the development of the Zhenjiang River Crab industry, which in turn has further enriched the cultural significance of the crab. Legend has it that as early as the late Three Kingdoms period, locals in Zhenjiang created the unique “Crab Roe Soup Dumpling.” It’s said that in honor of Lady Sun Shangxiang, the people of Zhenjiang, inspired by the people of Miluo who made zongzi to commemorate Qu Yuan, made meat buns and threw them into the river. Since Lady Sun loved crabs, they added crab roe and called them “Crab Roe Soup Dumplings.” This tradition has been passed down through generations. Today, crab dumplings and Yurou (preserved meat) are two of Zhenjiang’s most famous local products, both having won the national “Golden Tripod” award. During the Yuan Dynasty, Zhenjiang was even known as the place that supplied the “King Crab.” According to the Zhi Shun Zhenjiang Zhi [Yuan Dynasty]: “Crabs, commonly called ‘pangxie’ (side-walkers), are so named because they walk sideways. The Compendium of Materia Medica states: ‘In August, crabs carry two rice straw stems, each about an inch long, heading east toward the sea—that is where the King Crab is found.’ The three towns of Dagang, Dalu, and Yaoqiao in the former Dantu County of Zhenjiang are still referred to as ‘Eastern Zhenjiang.’ A folk rhyme from Eastern Zhenjiang still circulates today: When autumn winds rise and crab legs align, We light lanterns and circle bamboo lines. Big brother rolls up his pants, Little brother dams the ditch, Auntie washes fresh ginger, And second sister hurries with vinegar. During the Qing Dynasty, “Hibiscus-Wrapped Crab” was once designated as a dish for Emperor Qianlong’s imperial banquet in Zhenjiang. In Chapter 38 of Dream of the Red Chamber, “Lin Daiyu Wins First Place in the Chrysanthemum Poetry Contest; Xue Baochai Composes a Satirical Poem on Crabs,” the vivid descriptions by author Cao Xueqin remain unforgettable and deeply evocative. “Holding crabs, we relish the cool shade of osmanthus trees; splashing vinegar and pounding ginger, our spirits soar. Gluttonous nobles should drink their wine, while the sprawling lords have no guts inside.” The story takes place in Jinling (modern-day Nanjing), very close to Zhenjiang—just an 18-minute high-speed rail ride today. It’s reasonable to believe that the crabs enjoyed at the feast were the “King Crabs” supplied by Zhenjiang. These large, succulent “King Crabs” were once the delicacies enjoyed by the elite. Up until the early 1980s, Zhenjiang River Crabs were all wild-caught from the Yangtze River. According to aquatic product annual reports, the catch in 1955 reached 616.8 metric tons. With the passage of time, wild harvests could no longer meet market demand. In 1977, organized artificial breeding and release in larger water bodies began. The Dantu County Annals record: “Crab farming began in 1977 when 535 kilograms of crab seedlings were purchased from Chongming County for artificial stocking. In 1980, Yanghu Aquaculture Farm in Rongbing Commune released 7.5 kilograms of crab seedlings and saw returns that same year.” The Runzhou Annals state: “In 1982, Xinsheng and Changjiang villages in Rushan Township on the outskirts of Zhenjiang piloted crab farming on one mu of land each. By 1985, this had expanded to 120 mu.” The Zhenjiang Yearbook 2002 recorded that during the 1990s, Zhenjiang “developed a featured culinary street dedicated to freshwater delicacies” and “leveraged the unique ecological environment and resource advantages along the Yangtze River in areas such as Yangzhong and Dantu, using methods such as ‘low dams, high fences, and enclosed breeding’ to cultivate premium Yangtze River fish and river crabs.” In recent years, events such as the Xijindu (Zhenjiang) Yangtze River Crab Culture Festival and the Yangzhong Freshwater Delicacies Culture Museum have emerged. To better preserve Zhenjiang River Crab culture and strengthen the local freshwater delicacies industry, the Zhenjiang Municipal Party Committee and Government have placed high importance on the development of the crab industry. In 2012, then Zhenjiang Party Secretary Zhang Jinghua issued directives requiring the prompt establishment of an independent Zhenjiang River Crab brand and the growth of the freshwater seafood industry. The Municipal Agriculture Commission acted swiftly and pushed forward comprehensively. In 2013, the development of the Zhenjiang River Crab industry was included in the “Agricultural Industry Hundred Billion Project Plan (2013–2015)” and the “Zhenjiang Modern Specialty Fisheries Industry Development Plan.” The Zhenjiang Freshwater Delicacies Industry Association was established, and the “Dream Fresh” brand was registered. The association also opened chain stores and direct-sales outlets for Zhenjiang River Crab. In March of the same year, the Municipal Agriculture Commission issued the “Opinions on Promoting the Development of Zhenjiang Freshwater Delicacies Industry,” accelerating the growth of the crab sector. In 2013, the crab farming area reached 2,871.2 hectares, with a yield of 2,135.6 metric tons.

　　Region: Jiangsu

　　Applicant: Zhenjiang Freshwater Delicacies Industry Association

　　Year Designated: 2014

　　Geographical Scope

　　The geographical indication protection area for Zhenjiang River Crab includes the section of the Yangtze River within Zhenjiang’s administrative region and the areas within one kilometer of both banks of its five tributaries (Tongji River, Jiuqu River, Xiangcao River, the Grand Canal, and Binmin River). The administrative regions covered include all six towns (or subdistrict offices) of Yangzhong City; Dalu Town, Yaoqiao Town, and Dagang Subdistrict Office in Zhenjiang New District; Jiangqiao Town and Qilidian Subdistrict Office in Runzhou District; Jianbi Town and Xiangshan Town in Jingkou District; Gaogiao Town, Jiangxin Town, and Shiyechun Town in Dantu District; Xinqiao Town, Houxiang Town, Lingkou Town, Erling Town, and Yanling Town in Danyang City; and Baohua Town and Xiashu Town in Jurong City—totaling 23 towns (or subdistrict offices) across seven counties (or districts/cities). The geographical coordinates are: E119°04′15″ to 119°56′52″, N31°48′45″ to 32°18′40″. The protected area spans 2,871.2 hectares, with a yield of 2,135.6 metric tons.