West Lake Fish

Last updated 2026-11-15 — 1 West Lake Fish. The Yellow River flows through Baotou, and Yellow River carp has long been famous throughout China. Especially in spring when the ice melts and the river thaws, the carp caught at that time are especially plump and fresh. Hence the saying, "When the leeks grow two inches tall, the carp are so fat they could break your waist." In fish shops and restaurants, carp weighing over 1.5 jin (about 0.75 kg) are considered true carp. Those under 1.5 jin are called flower fish, and those under 1 jin are called vegetable fish. In Baotou, restaurants are known for their carp dishes such as shredded carp, sweet-and-sour crispy carp, red-braised carp, sweet-and-sour carp, and steamed carp, all of which are quite famous. But the most distinctive among them is West Lake Fish. In 1918, Mr. Lin Jing came to Baotou, "entered through the east gate and stayed at Wan Yisheng Store." ... In the evening, he dined at a restaurant where Yellow River carp was served at 1,200 wen per plate, and the taste was quite good." (From *Diary of Northwest Travel at Huanhai Yisonglou*). In 1934, the writer Bing Xin also visited Baotou and wrote in her *Travelogue Along the Beiping-Suiyuan Railway* that the Yellow River carp she tasted was tender, rich, and melt-in-the-mouth delicious, with a flavor so wonderful that only West Lake Vinegar Fish could come close in comparison.