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1st LD-Writethru-Across China: Chinese city hosts food festival on endangered amphibian

Xinhua, September 24, 2015 Adjust font size:

Hundreds will dine on endangered giant salamander as a festival celebrating consumption of the rare amphibian kicks off in Zhangjiajie on Thursday.

Foodies and tourists from across the country braved rain to travel to the event in central China's Hunan Province in order to get a bite of the "healthy delicacies that have lived (on earth) for 350 million years," as touted by the organizers.

"Drink giant salamander tea and live long!" one peddler shouted as he hawked tea and noodles made from pulverized giant salamanders, which can live for 200 years.

A variety of goods were on display, including giant salamander sauce and facial masks containing its "essence". Some sellers boasted snacks made from the creatures, commonly known as "baby fish" in China, as being capable of increasing pregnancy rate.

Giant salamanders, the world's largest existing amphibian, are placed under state protection in China, but the country's wildlife protection law allows consumption of the offspring of giant salamanders born and raised in captivity.

The many alleged health benefits surrounding the round-headed carnivore has made their meat precious. In Guangdong Province, a giant salamander dish can cost more than 5,000 yuan (780 U.S. dollars).

Earlier this year, a police chief in Shenzhen City, Guangdong, was fired following reports he attended an extravagant giant salamander feast, during which his colleagues fought reporters who tried to photograph the scene.

The two-day event also included a cooking competition, in which the amphibians were braised or stewed in "milk soup" as chefs explore ways to maximizes its tenderness.

"It's not that we pour milk into the soup," said Chef Zhang from Hunan Tianyu Restaurant. "That is the natural color of the fresh and fragrant broth of baby fish."

Local officials said all salamander meat used is from legal farms.

Zhangjiajie, known for its scenic mountains and being "China's home to giant salamanders," has 108 companies licensed for rearing such animals and 85 others engaged in related food processing or dining.

"Giant salamander farming, which requires clean water, actually drives locals to protect the environment," said Liu Qun, a senior city official. "The industry also helps lift locals out of poverty." Endi