The　engineering　of　natural　protein-based　hydrogels　with　outstanding　mechanics　and　functionalities　is　an　eternal　pursuit　in　biomaterials　science.　Soaking　methods　have　recently　been　used　to　simply　and　efficiently　tune　the　macroscopic　mechanical　properties　of　hydrogels　consisting　of　natural　polymers　(proteins　or　polysaccharides).　However,　the　high　concentration　of　salts　or　organic　solvent　within　the　soaked　hydrogels　is　harmful　to　cells.　Once　the　salts　were　eliminated,　however,　these　hydrogels　experience　mechanics　attenuation　and　swelling,　limiting　their　applications　as　biomaterials.　Here　we　utilize　dual　cross-link　networks　to　address　these　problems　by　preserving　the　physical　interactions　formed　during　the　soaking　treatment.　As　an　example,　a　dual　cross-link　gelatin-chitosan　hydrogel　is　prepared　by　a　click　reaction　and　hydrophobic　interactions,　which　achieve　an　unusual　combination　of　abundant　water　content　(＞87%),　strong　mechanics　(ultimate　strength　∼1.8　MPa),　antiswelling　properties　(swelling　ratio　of　11.25%　in　PBS　for　7　days),　thermal　stability,　and　biocompatibility.　We　expect　that　this　strategy　can　be　generalized　for　the　development　of　tough,　biocompatible,　and　environmentally　stable　protein-based　hydrogels.　©　2019　American　Chemical　Society.