Baotou Yellow River Carp Festival

Baotou Yellow River Carp Festival

　　In mid-March, taking advantage of the opportunity provided by the "First China (Baotou) Yellow River Carp Festival" hosted by the Baotou Municipal Government of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the reporter was invited to join domestic and international tourists from Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, as well as France, Spain, Denmark, and other places, to get a brief but vivid taste of the city known as the "Deer City"—Baotou.

　　The broad surface of the Yellow River is calm and serene, shimmering with ripples, nurturing the famously renowned Red Carp of the Yellow River in the region.

　　Carp, in traditional Chinese culture, is a symbol of good fortune, representing people’s beautiful aspirations. This forms the foundation of the unique Yellow River carp culture with its Central Plains folk characteristics. A folk tune sings these lyrics: "I dive headfirst into the river, and pull out a pair of Yellow River red carp. How many times have I dreamed of returning home, calling out 'Yellow River, my mother.'" These simple lyrics depict people’s deep affection for the Yellow River.

　　According to locals, after the long winter, the arrival of early spring brings the rare natural spectacle of ice drifting on the Yellow River in Baotou. Known as the Yellow River ice drift, it refers to the spectacular scene of the river thawing. At that time, ice and waves collide, water and ice floes surge, sometimes forming crystal-like mountains, sometimes sending up jade-like pillars toward the sky—the majestic momentum is awe-inspiring. Unfortunately, we missed the grand sight of the river ice breaking, but we were fortunate enough to enjoy the delicious taste of "ice-break carp."

　　The ice-break fish feast held during the "First China (Baotou) Yellow River Carp Festival" took place in Donghe, the old town area by the Yellow River. Stepping into the not overly luxurious restaurant, the air was filled with the rich aroma of delicious food. When seventeen- or eighteen-pound Yellow River carp were served at each table, the phrase “the fish stunning everyone in the room” aptly described the scene. The Yellow River red carp are large in size, with tender and smooth flesh, and when combined with the local traditional cooking methods, they create an exceptionally delicious and unique flavor. Just one bite with chopsticks makes you savor it involuntarily. In addition, the large catfish here are a rather rare species in the Yellow River, and also praised as being “as nourishing as ginseng in the season of ice break,” earning high praise from visitors—even those who usually aren’t interested in eating fish couldn’t help but cheer in delight.

　　As the meeting point of Eurasian steppe civilization and the agricultural civilization of the Yellow River basin, Baotou not only boasts the specialty of Yellow River carp, but also cultural and historical sites such as the "Ashan Ruins," the Zhao Great Wall, the Qin Great Wall, the Machi Ancient City, and the Alan Ancient City. In addition, famous Buddhist temples in China such as the Wudang Monastery and the ancient Miaofa Chan Temple, as well as scenic spots like the Xilamuren Grassland and the Jiufeng Mountain Nature Reserve, are all distinctive tourist attractions.