On July 30, a large number of cultured red squama fish will be released at Peach Blossom Valley, which is located at the west of Mount Taishan.

Mount Taishan is the exclusive home of red squama fish, one of five kinds of tributary fish in China. In 1980s, climate change, drought, tourist resource exploitation and orverfishing caused the number of fish to sharply decrease. The species faced extinction, and in 1991 the red squama fish of Mount Taishan was listed on the Wildlife under Special Protection of Shandong Province. It is also the only freshwater fish under special protection in Shandong province.

The local authorities have also taken measures to protect the fish species. In September 2005, Tai’an Municipal Government founded the red squama fish protection zone. The 15 square kilometer protection zone covers the scenic area of Peach Blossom Valley, Huangxi River, Tianjing Bay, Dazhi Gutter and Tianzhu Peak. It’s divided into a core area, a buffer area and an experiment area. In addition, the local government published measures to protect the fish.

In order to improve the living environment of red squama fish, the Management Committee of Mount Taishan Scenic Area has invested more than 31 million yuan since 2006 to carry out the eco-environmental management activity at Peach Blossom Valley. In September 2007, the fish was listed as the protected product of national geography symbol by China State Administration for Quality Supervision and Inspection and Quarantine. In September 2009, the State Grade Aquatic Germ Plasm Resources Protection Zone of Mount Taishan Squama Fish was founded and more than 15,000 red squama fish were released into Dragon Bay of the valley.

The local municipal government created Release Day of Mount Taishan Red Squama Fish to be held the nineteenth day of the sixth month of the lunar calendar.

The release will happen from 9:30 to 11:00 am July 30 at Bifeng Temple of the Peach Blossom Valley. The Peach Blossom Valley admission price has been lowered from 25 yuan to 10 yuan.