Three judges in China have become unexpected livestream stars after selling hairy crabs to more than 200,000 viewers in a bid to help a struggling family pay off their debts.
On October 31, the Gaochun District People’s Court in Nanjing turned into a full-on streaming studio as three judges joined a two-and-a-half hour broadcast on the city’s Intermediate People’s Court official account.
The stream featured the trio proudly holding up fresh hairy crabs, explaining the difference between male and female varieties, and breaking down key legal terms between sales pitches.
“This is a male crab in my hand…” one judge said with a smile, before pivoting into a quick lesson on “quasi-personal bankruptcy.”
According to reports, the broadcast was part of a new judicial asset liquidation program that helps honest debtors sell their products, repay what they owe, and better understand the country’s evolving bankruptcy system.
Judges go viral selling crabs on livestream
The crabs came from the family pond of a woman named Qiu Lan, whose parents once worked in ship transport. A collision accident more than a decade ago left them with enormous debts. They later turned to crab farming, but repeated setbacks and poor harvests only pushed them deeper in the red, owing over 800,000 yuan (around $112,000).
After Qiu’s parents applied for quasi-personal bankruptcy in September 2025, the court determined their debt stemmed from misfortune rather than bad faith. Officials then built a tailored “asset disposal plus financial relief” plan, allowing crab sales to go directly toward repayment. Any remaining shortfall could be addressed with low-interest loans through the court’s assistance program.
When unusually high temperatures threatened this year’s harvest, the court even contacted NPC deputy and aquaculture expert Xing Qingsong, who sent technicians to help stabilize the crop.
By the end of the livestream, more than 100 crab orders had been placed, nearly selling out the family’s entire stock. All proceeds were deposited directly into a court-supervised escrow account for repayment.
Court staff told local media this was their first time selling fresh goods online and that the event was prepared after work hours. Beyond crab sales, the judges used the broadcast to promote legal literacy and introduce China’s emerging personal bankruptcy pilot program.
The unusual stream earned widespread attention across Chinese social media, with many praising the judges for their creativity and compassion.
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