A few years ago, there was a book called "Collection of Regional Characteristic Agricultural Products in Beijing", which introduced more than 20 kinds of regional agricultural products produced in Beijing and the stories of their origins. Now I want to slowly introduce these Beijing regional agricultural products to everyone. Today I will introduce you to the fish in the reservoir of Miyun in Beijing.
"Beijing Regional Characteristic Agricultural Products 18 - Reservoir Fish in Miyun, Beijing"
First, the fish resources of Miyun Reservoir are special
Miyun Reservoir is located 13 kilometers north of the city of Miyun County, Beijing, in the middle of the Mountains and hills of Yanshan Mountain, and was completed in September 1960. The total area of Miyun Reservoir is 180 square kilometers, and the length of the water bank around Miyun Reservoir is 200 kilometers. With a reservoir capacity of 4 billion cubic meters and an average water depth of 30 meters, Miyun Reservoir is the largest source of drinking water supply around Beijing.
Miyun Reservoir mainly has two major rivers, namely the Bai River and the Chao River. Miyun Reservoir was once the largest artificial lake in Asia, known as the "Pearl of Yanshan Mountain". There is also a 110-kilometer-long road around the lake around the Miyun Reservoir, which is one of the important scenic tourist areas in the northeast of Beijing. The average summer temperature in the reservoir area is lower than 3 °C in Beijing, and it is a summer resort near Beijing. The specialty of Miyun Reservoir is the wild Miyun Reservoir fish, which is also the most famous fish town in Beijing.
The fish of Miyun Reservoir is not a unique species of fish, but a naturally grown fish based on Chaobai River carp (native to Chaobai River), silver carp, grass carp and bighead carp, which are unique in the growth environment rather than in the variety. Miyun Reservoir is the source of drinking water in Beijing, and the water quality of all water surfaces can meet The Class I or Class II drinking water standards. The Miyun Reservoir does not allow cage fish to be stocked, no bait is allowed to be thrown into the water surface, and the fish in the reservoir are all naturally grown. In order to protect fish stocks, fishing is prohibited from April 1 to September 24 every year, and even during the open season, only villagers around the reservoir are allowed to use small boats without mechanical power (i.e. human paddle boats) to enter the reservoir to fish, because mechanically powered boats can pollute the water due to the leakage of fuel oil and the emission of exhaust gas.
Miyun Reservoir provides a natural and safe environment for the growth of fish, excellent water quality, fish only prey on aquatic plants and other organisms in the water. Such an environment makes the fish here uniform and bright in color, natural and smooth in body shape, delicate and smooth in meat, delicious in taste and high in nutritional value after cooking.
The area of fish growth in Miyun Reservoir is south of Bulaotun Town, west of Taishitun Town, north of Mujiayu Town, and east of Shicheng Town and Xiwengzhuang Town. Miyun Reservoir has two major tributaries, one is the Bai River, which originates in Guyuan County, Hebei Province, and flows into the Miyun Reservoir through Chicheng County, Yanqing County and Huairou District; the other is the Chao River, which originates in Fengning County, Hebei Province, flows through Luanping County, and enters the Miyun Reservoir from Gubeikou.
Miyun Reservoir resembles an equilateral triangle, and when the flood level is 158.5m, the corresponding water surface area is 183.6 square kilometers and the reservoir capacity reaches 4.19 billion cubic meters; the normal water storage level is 157.5 meters, and the corresponding water surface area is l79.3 square kilometers. The reservoir capacity is 4.01 billion cubic meters; the flood limit water level is 147.0 meters, the corresponding water surface area is 137.5 square kilometers, and the storage capacity is 2.34 billion cubic meters; the stagnant water level is 126.0 meters, the water surface area is 46.2 square kilometers, and the storage capacity is 420 million cubic meters.
Second, the production history of fish products in Miyun Reservoir
Miyun Reservoir has a water surface of about 150,000 mu suitable for fishing, and since the beginning of the construction of the reservoir in 1960, it has been stocked with fry, and has been back-fished since 1961, and regular fishing has continued to this day. From 1960 to 1990, miyun reservoirs caught an average of about 500,000 kilograms of fish per year. In recent years, the annual catch of Miyun Reservoir is about 1.5 million to 2 million kilograms.
There are many species of fish in Miyun Reservoir, and there are no detailed statistics on the distribution of various fish species over the years. However, if we look at the statistics of catching various types of fish in recent years, we can also roughly see the basic distribution of fish species: carp 28.44%, grass carp 26.50%, silver carp 25.63%, flower silver carp 10.00%, crucian carp 4.88%, pond swamp male fish 2.00%, bream 1.00%, yellow jaw 0.31%, catfish 0.13%, other trash fish 1.13%.
In order to promote the development of leisure agriculture and rural tourism around Miyun Reservoir, the local government stipulates that fishing is closed from April 1 to September 24 at 24:00 every year, and fishing cannot start until September 25 every year. On the second day after the opening of the fish (i.e. the start of fishing), the annual "King of Fish Festival" is usually held, and the largest fish caught on the day of fishing (i.e. King Fish) is auctioned publicly, and the proceeds are used for public welfare donations.
Miyun Reservoir is a famous fish town in Beijing, where the famous dishes are inseparable from fish, the most famous dishes are "stewed fish" and "sauce stewed fish", as well as pasted cakes and other special farmhouse dishes. In the farmhouse cuisine, tofu dishes are also very famous, because the water here is good, and the tofu ground out of good water is particularly delicious, so tofu noodles stewed dried cabbage, fried brine tofu and so on have become the specialties here.
Third, the regional cultural characteristics and gastronomic traditions of the place of origin
1. Nursery rhymes circulating around Miyun Reservoir
The main species of fish in Miyun Reservoir is the Miyun Reservoir carp (i.e. Chaobai River carp). The nursery rhyme circulating in the local area is called "Playing Baby Chaobai River": the scenery on both sides of the strait is as beautiful as embroidery, and the rain is like oil after the tide. Golden-scaled, golden-winged carp, jumping dragon gate tens of millions of heads. The Wanli Emperor and his vassals were chaotic, shaking their heads and tails and swinging their tails and golden carp to the Jade Building, ignoring the greed of the government. Shallow fish walk in the water, and when the water dries up, the fish swim.
2. More than 40 years ago, the "whole fish mat" of Miyun Reservoir
More than 40 years ago, the "whole fish mat" of the four canteens of Miyun Reservoir was also very famous. In the autumn of 1974, the four canteens of Miyun Reservoir held a "whole fish table" for the reception of the working meal.
At that time, the whole fish table consisted of 16 dishes: crispy fish, ruyi fish roll, sauce ton fish head, squirrel fish, hydrangea whole fish, braised fish fillet, fish rice town, spiced fish pieces, fried white strips, oil-soaked fish, watercress fish, sesame fish fillet, steamed red trout, crucian carp tofu, meso cabbage, seasonal vegetable dipping sauce.
At that time, the staple food of the whole fish table was: fish dumplings, fish buns, stuffed nests, and polenta.
A seasonal fruit plate is also served after the meal.
In addition, according to the chef at the time, there is a second method of this "whole fish table", which is also 16 dishes: crystal fish, crispy fish rolls, minced pepper fish head, five willow pomfret, braised fish shredded, dried braised fish, braised fish, fried river shrimp, vinegar pepper fish, sweet and sour fish, hibiscus fish fillet, sashimi, fish balls, sour and spicy melon strips, seasonal vegetable dip sauce, seasonal fruit plate.
The staple food of this whole fish table is: fish dumplings, stickers, millet porridge.
3. Enjoy fish food in Miyun Reservoir in autumn
Every autumn, it is the time to go to the outskirts of Beijing to enjoy autumn, in the opening season (September 25 every year) to taste the first net of fresh fish must not be missed, at this time is also the reservoir fish body fat, delicious taste of good season. After the winter, if the fish does not eat or drink, it will slowly become emaciated, and the meat will become hard and the taste will be much inferior. Therefore, coming to Miyun Reservoir to eat fish in September and October in the autumn has become a rare enjoyment.
The famous way to eat fish here is called "stew", which is also the most traditional way to cook fish. In the past, the fishermen here shook their boats and went out to fish for two or three days, they only brought pots, salt, green onions and other necessary cooking materials, and when they were hungry, they lit a fire on the shore, propped up the pot, put the fish and salt and green onions, and put them in the water stew of the Miyun Reservoir. And no matter what kind of fish is put in a pot and stewed together, this is what people often call "stew". "Stewing" is the most original way to eat fish here. Later, fishermen also used this method to eat fish after returning home, but they would put a large spoonful of yellow sauce and some oil in a large wood pot, which became what people often call "sauce stew" today.
The fish in Miyun Reservoir, wandering on the wide water surface, no one to feed, has always been natural foraging, in a "wild" state, so its flesh is crisp and sweet. Natural stocking at drinking water sources has become a signboard for restaurants around the reservoir to sell their fish dishes to tourists. When it was popular to eat fish heads in the city, the dish "Sauce Stewed Fish Head" was developed here, and dishes such as "Da Chai Pot Yu Stewed Fish" and "Da Chai Pot Sauce Stewed Fish" have become the basic dishes that every restaurant here must have.
There is a "Fish Street" next to Miyun Reservoir, which is also called "Fish King Food Street", and it is always bustling during the fish season every autumn.
4. The development history of "Fish Street"
The surrounding area of Miyun Reservoir is beautiful, and the forest coverage rate is as high as 65%. Xi Weng Zhuang is located near the Miyun Reservoir, the beautiful ecological environment and the famous Miyun Reservoir fish prompted xi Weng Zhuang on the side of the reservoir to build a well-known "fish street", that is, "Fish King Food Street".
This fish street is always very lively, every year to participate in the reservoir fish release, come to catch fish markets, participate in the wild treasure hunting activities around the reservoir, participate in the Miyun Reservoir wild fishing competition activities, people come and go, bustling. In addition, there are many scenic spots around Miyun Reservoir Mountain, such as Black Dragon Pond, White Dragon Pond, Qingliang Valley, Yunmeng Mountain, Taoyuan Immortal Valley, Yunfeng Mountain, etc., after playing, you always have to eat, and it has become a link that cannot be omitted when you come here to enjoy the fish in the reservoir.
Come to Fish Street, where the set of food, drink and play one-stop service, so that guests here can continue to play in the surrounding area while having a full meal. Good catering services allow tourists to extend their stay here, and also allow related other tour service industries to gain a larger tourist base. Therefore, Fish Street plays an important role in driving the development of the local rural economy.
In order to better serve the guests who come to Miyun Reservoir to visit, the Miyun County Tourism Bureau has selected the top ten restaurants in "Fish Street", hoping to take this as an opportunity to improve the catering quality and service level of "Fish Street". The restaurant of "Fish Street" combines the fish food of the reservoir with the local culture of Miyun, so that the process of tourists eating becomes the process of tasting the local local culture, so that guests who come to visit can not only taste the flavor of the fish in the Miyun Reservoir, but also experience the mellowness and far-reaching of the local local culture.