Bixi Fishing Garden

The garden is in Changyang Township, Fangshan District, 26 km from downtown Beijing. Visitors can fish outdoors or under cover.

You can catch: cyprinid, silver crap, grass carp, crucian, blunt-snout bream, catfish, African carp and pomfret. You can even fish for blue and white shark, but only outdoors and they are small ones.

Cost: There is a flat charge per rod of 30 yuan, and then you pay for what you catch by the kilogram according to species as follows:

African carp, silver pomfret and black crucian are 30 yuan/kg. Rainbow trout 40 yuan/kg. Small grass carp, cyprinid and silver carp 30 yuan/kg (40 yuan if over 2.5 kg). Blunt-snout bream and red crucian 50 yuan/kg. Small white shark 96 yuan/kg and small blue shark 116 yuan/kg.

Recommended as a good place for “serious” fishing.

How to get there: Take Bus 917 from Tianqiao (Heavenly Bridge) and get off at Fengtai Station.

By automobile, take the expressway from the Liuliqiao Flyover to the Changyang Exit in Daxing District, go east 4 km from the Beijing-Liangxiang Roundabout, and then turn right into Changyang Road.

Jinhai Lake

Some consider Jinhai Lake, 85 km from the city, to be one of the best tourist attractions in Beijing. It was the first place in Beijing to develop water sports in a big way. After fishing, visitors can dine well at a choice of restaurants.

Catch: cyprinid, grass carp, crucian and blunt-snout bream.

Cost: A fixed charge of 20 yuan covers all the fish you can catch.

Recommended because of the enchanting landscape of the lake.

How to get there: Take Bus 918 from Dongzhimen.

By automobile, take the Beijing-Shunyi Road to the Pinggu District, and then go 18 km east.

Crab Island

Lying to the south of the airport highway in the northeast of Chaoyang District, Crab Island covers an area of 3,300 mu (220 hectares or 543 acres). It is a holiday village with a pleasant green environment.

Catch: African carp, crucian, blunt-snout bream, grass carp, cyprinid, rainbow trout, sturgeon, soft-shelled turtle and blue shark, and yes, of course there are crabs at Crab Island.

Cost: 10 yuan per rod for three hours fishing outdoors, then you pay for what you catch:

Cyprinid is 20 yuan/kg. Grass carp 24 yuan/kg. African carp, crucian and blunt-snout bream 30 yuan/kg. Rainbow trout 56 yuan/kg. Blue shark 116 yuan/kg. Sturgeon and soft-shelled turtle 136 yuan/kg. Small crabs are 120 yuan/kg while big ones cost 200-300 yuan/kg.

Recommended for the variety of fish and the crabs here.

How to get there: take Bus 418 or Bus 909 at Dongzhimen and get off at Xiedao (Crab Island) Station.

Going by car, take the International Expressway by-road. Turn left at Weigou and continue on a further 1.5 km.

Nangong Hot Spring Fishing Center

Located in the Nangong World Geotherm Expo, it has five pools for fishing and one for spearing fish. There is also a special area for children to fish.

Catch: Grass carp, cyprinid, catfish, crucian, porgy, golden trout, rainbow trout and blue shark.

Cost: 10 yuan for rod hire plus:

Cyprinid is 20 yuan/kg. Grass carp 24 yuan/kg. Catfish and crucian 30 yuan/kg. Porgy is 40 yuan/kg. Rainbow trout 50 yuan/kg. Golden trout 136 yuan/kg. Blue shark 116 yuan/kg. You pay 10-20 yuan/kg for anything your children catch in the kids’ area. If you want to get in beside the fish, you pay 20 yuan for 10 minutes spearing.

Recommended for having something for everyone.

How to get there: take Bus 715 and get off at Geotherm Expo Station.

By car, get onto the expressway at the Liuliqiao Flyover and leave at the Zhaoxindian Exit, and then drive westwards.

Xiwa Club

Catch: grass carp, cyprinid and crucian.

Cost: 18 yuan/kg for all species of fish.

How to get there: take Bus 360, 417 or 904 bus and get off at Niangniangfu Station.

By car, on the Fourth Ring Road, take the Fragrant Hills Exit and head for Beiwu Village. At the third set of traffic lights, make a left turn, and then go straight on for 800 meters.

Chaolai Agricultural Garden

Catch: grass carp, crucian and blunt-snout bream.

Cost: 20 yuan for rod hire, and then 24 yuan/kg for all species of fish.

How to get there: Bus 707 goes to Chaolai Agricultural Garden.

By car, take the northern Fifth Ring Road, leave by the Beiyuan Exit, and then it’s straight on from there.

Fangcao Fishing Village

Catch: porgy, grass carp, crucian and blunt-snout bream.

Cost: you can borrow a rod free of charge or bring your own, and then it is 24 yuan/kg for all species of fish.

How to get there: take Bus 345 and get off at Machikou Station, or you can go by train.

By car, go by way of the Beijing-Changping Expressway, leaving by the Technology Park Exit in Changping District, and then go straight on and make a U-turn at the first bridge you come to.

Golden Dragon Fishing Garden

Catch: cyprinid, crucian, and grass carp.

Cost: 10 yuan to hire a rod then 16 yuan/kg for all species of fish.

How to get there: take the Cityrail Subway and get off at Huilongguan Station.

By car, go by way of the Beijing-Changping Expressway, leaving by the Xisanqi Exit, and then drive north and turn right at the Shaolin Marshal School.

Huayuanhu Fishing Harbor

Catch: rainbow trout, golden trout, and sturgeon.

Cost: There is no charge for rod hire, just pay for what you catch. Rainbow trout are 32 yuan/kg. Golden trout 50 yuan/kg. Sturgeon 120 yuan/kilogram.

The restaurants here will cook your catch for you at an extra 5 yuan for a rainbow or golden trout and 10 yuan for a sturgeon.

How to get there: go by train from Xizhimen Railway Station to Shentangyu and then change to a mini-bus.

Jinxiu Fishing Harbor

Catch: cyprinid, grass carp, crucian, perch, and silver carp.

Cost: you pay 10 yuan for the rod plus 38 yuan for a full day’s fishing, and then you pay 8 yuan/kg for the fish if you catch more than 2 kg.

How to get there: take Bus 916 at Dongzhimen and get off at Huairou Station. Then change to a mini-bus.

By car, take the Beijing-Miyun Expressway. Continue straight ahead when you get to the Shichang Roundabout at Huairou District. Then on to Suyu Reservoir through Qiaozi Township.

Dafuhao (Millionaire) Fishing Garden

Catch: crucian, cyprinid, grass carp and blunt-snout bream.

Cost: 30 yuan/day from Monday to Friday, and then 40 yuan/day on Saturday and Sunday.

How to get there: Take Bus 846 alone the Chang’an Avenue.

By car, take the Beijing-Tongzhou Expressway and leave at the Beiguan Roundabout. Watch out for the Longyu Gasoline Station, where you need to go 200 meters to the north.

Tips for fishing

1.       A rod 5-6 meters long will be fine for all these fishing spots.

2.       Fish are fond of running water, so fishing in the open is the best choice.

3.       Fish can often be found in places where the water is shallow, near the river banks or where there is plenty vegetation.

4.       When the fish strike, bring the line in quickly but don’t be too rough or you might break the line.

5.       Earthworms and small shrimps are the best bait.

6.       Force 1-2 easterly, southeasterly and southwesterly winds provide the best fishing weather.

7.       Don’t fish in prohibited areas!

(China.org.cn by Unisumoon on August 27, 2004)