International fishing competition kicks off in Sichuan

The 13th China Shengzhong Lake International Fishing Competition kicked off on Wednesday at the Shengzhong Lake Scenic Area in Nanbu county, Nanchong, Sichuan province.

Sponsored by the Nanchong city government and the China Angling Association, this year's event attracts 1,052 athletes from 21 countries.

The event consists of national reservoir and pond fishing competitions and an international boat fishing competition, according to the organizing committee.

The national reservoir fishing competition is a team event that will take place from Thursday to Sunday in the core waters of the scenic area. The total prize money for the competition is 425,000 yuan ($60,550), and the team with the highest overall score will receive a bonus of 200,000 yuan.

The international boat fishing competition will be held on Friday and Saturday in the waters around Fenghuang Island in Shengzhong Lake. The total prize money is $40,000, with a top prize of $10,000 for the champion.

The national pond fishing competition will be held on Thursday and Friday in the international-standard fish ponds at the scenic area, offering prizes worth 120,000 yuan.

Since its inception in 2009, the annual fishing event has become a nationally renowned angling brand, attracting an increasing number of high-level domestic and international anglers in recent years, said the organizers.

Spanning 5,733 hectares, Shengzhong Lake is one of the largest artificial lakes in Southwest China. The lake's picturesque scenery, green islands and clear water have made it a famous destination for leisure and fishing enthusiasts from across the country.