Chagan Lake ice fishing festival poised to open in Jilin

The 24th Chagan Lake Fishing and Hunting Cultural Tourism Festival is set to open on January 8 in Songyuan City, Jilin Province, ushering in one of northeast China's most iconic winter spectacles.

Chagan Lake's winter fishing tradition dates back about a thousand years and is recognized as a national-level intangible cultural heritage. This winter's fishing season will close just before the arrival of Spring Festival. Visitors can witness time-honored fishing practices up close, including the hand-cutting of the ice and horse-drawn winches pulling nets from beneath the frozen lake.

Adding new energy to the festival this year is a 230,000-square-meter ice and snow amusement park, featuring more than 30 winter activities. The park can host up to 3,000 visitors at a time and includes a 500-square-meter air-supported dome serving as an ice-fishing camp, with 100 fishing spots designed to offer an authentic winter fishing experience.

An ice-lake ski area has also been introduced, capable of accommodating 2,000 visitors. By weaving together natural scenery, cultural heritage and hands-on experiences, the festival invites visitors to feel the warmth of ancient tradition and encounter modern creativity amid the cold.