Zhang Ting achieved crab farming success on abandoned saline-alkali land in Ningxia. She returned to Yinchuan with her husband Liu Mingwei in 2019. Local markets imported nearly all Chinese mitten crabs from elsewhere. Consequently, the couple decided to raise crabs using Yellow River water. Their crab farming success began with a single 13-mu pond.
Only 15 percent of seedlings survived in their first year. Zhang and her husband monitored water temperature, plants, and molting patterns constantly. They brought technical advisers from Jiangsu province. The couple refined feed formulas for the Yellow River’s mineral-rich water. Lab results showed their crab roe matched the Yangcheng Lake variety. Thus, their crab farming success continued to grow.
Zhang expanded her operation from 13 mu to nearly 2,300 mu. She received support from the local livestock and aquatic technology center. The couple built paved roads, sorting workshops, and winter storage greenhouses. Zhang opened retail outlets in Yinchuan and targeted corporate buyers. She developed premium gift packaging for online sales. After registering a trademark, her farm’s annual revenue exceeded 3 million yuan. At the 2024 Crab Industry Expo in Shanghai, she sold 650 kilograms in three days. Several restaurants from Zhejiang and Shanghai signed long-term supply agreements. At the 2025 Shanghai International Crab Exhibition, her crabs won four awards.
Zhang adopted a company-farm-farmer model to help local households. She provided crab seedlings, technical guidance, and marketing assistance. By the end of 2025, she helped 43 households farm over 10,000 mu. Each participating family earned an additional 50,000 yuan per year. The operation also created more than 40 jobs. Thus, her crab farming success benefited the entire community.
