It's illegal. Although Chinese tortoises are common in life, they also belong to the national second-class protected animals. It's also illegal if their source can't be determined to be the second generation artificially raised. Wild animal resources belong to the state. The state implements the principle of giving priority to the protection of wild animals, standardizing their utilization and strictly supervising them, encourages scientific research on wild animals, cultivates citizens' awareness of protecting wild animals and promotes the harmonious development between man and nature. The state protects the legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuals engaged in wildlife scientific research, artificial breeding and other protection and related activities according to law. The state protects wild animals and their habitats. The people's governments at or above the county level shall formulate plans and measures for the protection of wild animals and their habitats, and include the funds for wildlife protection in the budget. The state encourages citizens, legal persons and other organizations to participate in wildlife protection activities and support wildlife protection public welfare undertakings through donation, funding and voluntary service according to law.

Legal basis:

Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Wild Animals Article 1 The State protects wild animals by classification.

the state gives priority to the protection of rare and endangered wild animals. Wild animals under special state protection are divided into first-class protected wild animals and second-class protected wild animals. The list of national key protected wild animals shall be formulated by the competent department of wildlife protection in the State Council after scientific assessment, and the list shall be adjusted every five years according to the assessment. The list of national key protected wild animals was reported to the State Council for approval and publication.

wildlife under special local protection refers to wildlife under special protection by provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government, in addition to wildlife under special national protection. The list of local key protected wild animals shall be formulated, adjusted and published by the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government after scientific assessment.

The list of terrestrial wild animals with important ecological, scientific and social values shall be formulated, adjusted and published by the competent department of wildlife protection in the State Council after scientific assessment.