Given the goldfish’s ancient origins rooted deeply in China, and its historical association with the Chinese Monarchs, it is hardly surprising that Beijing’s Zhong Shan Garden, located just beyond the outer walls of the Forbidden City, is home to a beautiful public goldfish display.

Zhong Shan Garden’s goldfish display area is nestled in a quiet corner of its vast picturesque grounds of ancient trees and flowerbeds. One of our members was fortunate enough to visit it in May this year. He was doubly lucky in that the Garden was hosting one of its goldfish exhibitions at the time.

According to the Garden’s goldfish curator, numerous goldfish exhibitions are held throughout the year. The exhibitions present an opportunity for goldfish enthusiasts to learn and meet like minded people. Goldfish ‘professors’ are invited to such events, and contribute to the Garden’s efforts to educate the public. It is encouraging that the Chinese are taking such take such commendable efforts to preserve the future of China’s “living heritage”.

Zhong Shan Garden’s permanent goldfish displays are built into the walls of several specially designated corridors. The wooden beams that hold up the garden’s corridors are individually hand-decorated with paintings. The numerous corridors translate to thousands of fine paintings. A closer look at the paintings reveals that some of them are, quite fittingly, of goldfish.

It is interesting to note that the goldfish on permanent display were not the run-of-the-mill varieties but comprised of some of the more sophisticated and very rare breeds.

Entrance to Zhong Shan Garden.

First view of Zhong Shan Garden’s goldfish area

Permanent goldfish display area

Painted beams

A wooden display tub

Earthen display jars