The turtle, which local legend says is more than 1,000 years old, weighs more than 124 kilograms. It's 132 centimeters long and 88 centimeter wide.

A local temple bought the turtle for 4,500 yuan ($578) last week before it engaged a local aquatics product seller to sell it to a local restaurant. The restaurant, in turn, set it free.

(Yangheng Evening News)