Chagan Lake Winter Fishing Festival

  • An impressive arial view of the festival
  • The worship ritual ceremony derives from ancient Mongolian culture
  • The 2018 Chagan Lake Winter Fishing Festival kicks off in Songyuan city, Northeast China's Jilin Province
  • Openig ceremony
  • Festive atmosphere at the Chagan fishing festival
  • Chagan Lake Ice and Snow Fishing and Hunting Cultural Tourism is held from end-December to early January every year
  • Chagan Lake Ice and Snow Fishing and Hunting Cultural Tourism is held from end-December to early January every year
  • Buddhist lamas perform a dance ritual at the opening ceremony
  • Two fishermen carry a newly-caught fish at the opening ceremony

The 2018 Chagan Lake Winter Fishing Festival kicks off in Songyuan city, Northeast China’s Jilin Province

Chagan Lake is one of the biggest freshwater lakes in China; every year, the Chagan Lake Winter Fishing Festival is held in Songyuan city in Northeast China‘s Jilin Province from end-December to early January. This festival has provided a feast for northern people and the region’s unique traditional fishing methods have started attracting an increasing number of tourists from all parts of China.

Chagan Lake fishermen are China‘s last remaining fishing tribe, and they brave temperatures of minus 20 to minus 30 degrees Celsius, using a centuries-old technique to catch the fish. They drill holes in the ice, throw in their fishing nets and use horses to pull the winches as they trawl for a catch. In doing so, they are preserving a tradition which dates back nearly 2,000 years. This is one of the oldest fishing methods and it is the traditional way to harvest fish. It originated during the Liao and Jin dynasties, yet it is still a custom that is both popular and sacred for the local people.

An impressive aerial view of the festival

A series of day and night activities take place during the festival. They include a photography competition, an auction of the first fish caught, lake protection seminars, development forums, and a series of activities relating to local folk customs.

The Chagan Lake Winter Fishing Festival opening ceremony boasts a worship ritual ceremony which derives from ancient Mongolian culture. Buddhist lamas offer sacrifices to the lake and perform the Chama dance, which is believed to expel evil spirits and celebrate victory against the pagans. This ceremony also marks the beginning of the winter fishing season.

The worship ritual ceremony derives from ancient Mongolian culture

Once the fishing season opens, Chagan Lake bustle with noise and excitement, with spectacular fishing scenes: skilled fishermen standing on the ice, horses pulling the capstan, local farmers selling fishing tools and gadgets, and visitors joining in on the fun.

As one of the 10 largest freshwater lakes in China, Chagan Lake produces thousands of tons of carp each year. The Chagan Lake Winter Fishing Festival can be called one of the world wonders and has set a Guinness World Record for a single-net fish catch. To be noted that in 2008, Chagan Lake winter fishing was officially recognised as Chinese intangible cultural heritage, and Chagan Lake‘s tourism area was identified as a Chinese intangible culture park.

Opening ceremony

If you want to give a go at ice fishing, dress appropriately, bring a comfortable chair, gather up some expert and useful ice fishing tips and always aim to get the top-notch equipment so that you can get the most out of this fantastic sport. 

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About the author

Thomas has a university background in the UK and in Latin America, with studies in Languages and Humanities, Culture, Literature and Economics. He started his Asian experience as a publisher in Krabi in 2005. Thomas has been editing local newspapers and magazines in England, Spain and Thailand for more than fifteen years. He is currently working on several projects in Thailand and abroad. Apart from Thailand, Thomas has lived in Italy, England, Venezuela, Cuba, Spain and Bali. He spends most of his time in Asia. During the years Thomas has developed a great understanding of several Asian cultures and people. He is also working freelance, writing short travel stories and articles for travel magazines. Follow Thomas on www.asianitinerary.com

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