New regions put hairy crabs on the table as cultivation expands

Traditionally associated with rivers and lakes in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, hairy crabs are now being sourced from new regions in China. This year, consumers can find crabs from the Yellow River Delta and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, made available through the online fresh grocery platform Dingdong Maicai.

Yellow River Delta crabs are prized for their firm, sweet meat and unique salty-sweet flavor. The region's seasonal conditions allow them to reach markets 15 to 20 days earlier than traditional sources, making them among the first available of the season.

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau crabs are raised in natural lakes over 3,000 meters above sea level which are fed by glacial meltwater, and cultivated for more than two years. Their slow growth results in tender, sweet meat and full roe, challenging the notion that hairy crabs can only thrive in low-altitude waters.

Across China, from Hongze Lake's "June yellow" crabs — so called because of their golden roes — to Yangcheng Lake and Tianshan snow crabs, Dingdong Maicai sources directly from multiple regions, helping to bring a diverse range of regional crabs to the national market.

In September, the Yellow River Delta crab season opened in Dongying, Shandong province, coinciding with China's farmers' harvest festival, with Dingdong Maicai signing large-scale direct sourcing agreements to support the industry.