It is an animal strictly protected by the Chinese government, and is thought to have lived at the same time as dinosaurs, dating back to a period 140 million years ago. Because of that, it is sometimes also known as a living fossil.

It can be considered a large fresh water fish, and is 200 to 500 centimeters in body length, with 200 to 500 kilograms in average weight. The largest one can weigh 550 kilograms. A grownup sturgeon measures up to 4 meters long, weighs over 1000 pound, ranking the biggest of all the 27 sturgeons in the world and biggest animal in the Yangtze River. Its head is acuminate, with the mouth under its jaw.