From mid-December until the Lunar New Year each year, fishermen in Tongyuan City, Jilin Province, engage in large-scale fishing on the frozen Chagan Lake.
Despite the freezing weather, local fishermen remain busy harvesting fish. This traditional fishing activity has lasted for centuries. This year, the estimated catch is around 1,500 tons. As of December 25, the fishermen have completed 10 days of preliminary fishing, yielding over 425 tons of fish.
Fish caught by fishermen on December 26. (Photo: Xinhua).
The preliminary fishing phase uses small mesh nets to target smaller fish and herd larger fish towards the central area of the lake, where the main fishing event will take place over a 40-day period, starting December 26.
According to local fishermen, selecting a good fishing spot requires many years of experience. Experienced fishermen often choose their spots based on wind direction and the swimming patterns of the fish.
All fish caught will be transported to a 10,000 m² area for preservation and packaging.
The fishermen have poured water onto the ground to create a thick layer of ice, measuring 5 to 6 cm. Only 20% of the catch will be sold immediately at the outdoor market. However, about 80% of the fish will be sold online across China.
A fisherman catches a large fish on December 26.
The lively fishing activity attracts many tourists.
Chagan Lake is one of the ten largest freshwater lakes in Northeast China. This lake has a diverse ecosystem and a large fish population. In winter, Chagan Lake often attracts fishermen and many tourists for fishing and trading.
