Dali Nor lake is one of the four lakes in Inner Mongolia. It is a typical saline-alkaline lake with high concentrations of carbonate salts (alkalinity up to 60 mmol/L, pH 9.6, and salinity 6‰). Amur ide () is one of the two existing fish in the Dali Nor lake with economic value. Amur ide inhabiting Dali Nor lake undertake spawning migration. To investigate the metabolic regulation mechanism of during spawning migration form Dali Nor lake to Gongger river, we measured serum biochemical parameters, glycogen storage in the hepatopancreas and muscle, and key metabolic and digestive enzyme activities in the hepatopancreas and intestinal tract in collected from Dali Nor lake and Gongger river. In addition, we studied serum biochemical parameters in during a 24 h transfer from Dali Nor Lake to Gongger River water. Compared to lake fish, river fish had significantly lower serum glucose concentrations and significantly elevated cholesterol concentrations. Serum protein and triglyceride concentration did not differ significantly between river and lake fish. Liver glycogen content of the river fish was found to be remarkably higher than that of the lake fish, while muscle glycogen content remained at the same level as the lake fish. Measured metabolic enzyme activities showed that glutamate transaminase (GOT) activity in the hepatopancreas significantly decreased in river fish, while there was no change in alanine aminotransferase (GPT) and hexokinase (HK) activities. It was noted that the activities of all measured digestive enzymes (pepsin, trypsin, amylase and cellulose) increased significantly in both in the liver and the intestinal tract in river fish compared to lake fish. During the 24 h lake-to-river water transfer, serum glucose and protein levels decreased significantly, while triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations did not change. It was concluded that during spawning migration from Dali Nor Lake to Gongger River, can maintain higher metabolic rates and store glycogen in liver in order to provide energy for their subsequent reproduction. The elevated digestive enzyme activities of river fish represent an improved digestibility coefficient, which provides more energy for their reproductive activity.