In order to explore the effect and mechanism of non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs) on growth and feed utilization of Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis, soluble pectin (SP), insoluble pectin (ISP), soluble xylan (SX) and insoluble xylan (ISX) were included in test diets at 12% and were fed to juvenile Chinese mitten crab with initial body weight of (1.6±0.7) g for 13 weeks. Diet viscosity, special growth rate, feed conversion ratio, energy and nutrients retention, body composition, serum cholesterol and triglyceride, activities of lipase and amylase in hepatopancreas were measured. The results showed that dietary viscosity varied greatly, and SP diet had the highest viscosity, followed by ISP diet, and ISX diet had the lowest value. No significant difference was observed in special growth rate, body composition and digestive enzyme activity among groups (P > 0.05). Feed conversion ratio of group SP was higher than that of group ISP and group SX (P < 0.05) while no significant difference was detected between group ISX and other groups (P > 0.05). Retentions of protein, lipid and energy of group SP were lower than those of group ISP (P < 0.05), however, protein retention of group SX was higher than that of group ISX (P < 0.05) and no significant difference was detected between group ISP and group SX. No significant difference was observed in serum cholesterol between soluble and insoluble NSPs (P > 0.05). However, it was lower in group ISP than in group SX and ISX (P < 0.05). These results suggested that tested NSPs influenced the nutrients utilization of Chinese mitten crab, which might attribute to their viscosity but not the solubility. Both high and low viscosity of diet would reduce feed utilization. NSPs might decrease the resorption of bile acid but not lipid utilization