Workers sort live king crabs at a seafood facility in Weihai. [Photo/Dazhong News]

Live king crab ordered in Guangzhou, nearly 1,800 kilometers away, in the morning can be delivered that same afternoon via Weihai, a coastal city in Shandong province, highlighting its growing role in China's live seafood trade.

More than half of the king crab and snow crab sold in the domestic market passes through Weihai. The city has more than 3,000 standardized holding tanks and a logistics network spanning 15 distribution centers across the country, making the rapid delivery possible.

The key to this trade is keeping the seafood alive. For instance, working with research institutions of Shandong University, Weihai Port Runze International Trade Comprehensive Service, have developed a system that replicates the natural marine conditions each species requires. The holding technology achieves a survival rate above 98 percent for king crab and other premium live seafood, sourcing directly from Russia, Canada, and South Korea.

Weihai's role extends beyond live imports. The city produces 3.55 million metric tons of aquatic products annually, with oysters ranking first in China and abalone and sea cucumbers second. Its processed seafood, including squid products, has been exported to more than 60 countries and regions. In 2025, the city's seafood import and export value totaled 18.72 billion yuan ($2.6 billion).

Weihai aims to build on this foundation by creating a national-level live seafood industrial park and launching a price index for its live products, moving toward its long-term goal of becoming a global live seafood hub.

Fish caught by local fishermen lie on the deck of a fishing boat in Weihai. [Photo/Dazhong News]