Chitosans were prepared from red crab chitin under various alkali treatment conditions(different alkali concentrations, reaction times and temperatures) and theirphysicochemical properties were investigated. The nitrogen content and deacetylation degree of red crab chitin were 6.15% and 22.17A%, respectively. By the IR spectra, red crab and reference chitin showed the sharp bands at 1650 $cm^{-1}$ / and 1550 $cm^{-1}$ /, which are characteristic of chitin. The nitrogen contents of prepared chitosans ranged from 6.19~7.48%. Thedeacetylation degree was increased from 63~76% and 48~78% with increasing reaction time and temperature, whereas viscosity was decreased. The nitrogen content and yield of red crab chitosan perpared from chitin with 50% NaOH, 1:25(w/v) for 3.0 hr at 120$cm^{-1}$ / were 7.26% and 85.0%, respectively. and viscosity, deacetylation degree and molecular weight, 67.0 mPa.s, 75.0% and 6.5$ imes$10$^{5}$ Dalton, respectively. From the IR spectra, the amide absorption bands of red crab and reference chitosan became very weak, similarly. And at solid state $^{13}$ C-NMR spectra, C=O(carbonyl carbon) signals absent, whereas $CH_3$(methyl carbon) was residues. Chemical shift of $^{13}$ C-NMR spectra of red crab and reference chitosans were in good agreement with slight experimental deviation.