Acipenser sinensis is a first-class protected wild animal in China, and it is also a living fossil. It is known as the "giant panda in the water". At present, it is only distributed in the Yangtze River valley in China, and it has been extinct in other rivers, which has high scientific research, medicinal and ornamental value.

Acipenser sinensis has a spindle-shaped body, a bluish-gray or grayish-brown head and back, a grayish-white abdomen and gray fins. The whole body has no thorns, and only a small amount of hard bones, a row of beautiful bone plates on the back, two rows of beautiful bone plates on the side and five rows of cartilaginous vertebrae support the huge body. Generally, there are 8~ 16 bone plates in front of dorsal fin, 0~3 bone plates in back of dorsal fin, 26 ~ 42 bone plates in body side and 8~ 16 bone plates in ventral side. The head is in the shape of the Yangtze River Delta, and the bone plate on the back of the head is smooth. The front part of the eyes is flat and plow-shaped, and upturned. The mouth is on the ventral surface of the head, forming a transverse crack, and the mouth can expand and contract freely. The upper and lower lips have horny papillae. Four whiskers are juxtaposed in front of the mouth. Eyes are very small. There are spray holes behind the eyes. The branchial foramen is large, and the branchial membrane is connected with the isthmus. Gill harrows are short, thin and sharp, with 14~28 pieces, generally about 18 pieces.