Winter fishing on Chagan Lake is an ancient tradition that dates back to the Liao Dynasty (916-1125) and Jin Dynasty (1115-1234).
Chagan Lake fishermen are said to be China's last fishing tribe. They drill holes in the ice, drop in their fishing nets and use horses to pull winches as they trawl for a catch. No machinery is used in the process.
The winter fishing season starts in the middle of December each year and ends in the middle of the following January. Fish freeze as soon as they are out of the water.
Every year, the largest fish in the first catch will be auctioned because it symbolizes luck and happiness for the whole year in local culture. In 2018, the biggest fish from the first catch was sold for 999,999 yuan. Money from the auction was used to protect the environment of Chagan Lake.
Chagan Lake almost dried up in the 1960s and 70's. In 1984, water from Songhuajiang River was diverted to Chagan Lake in order to save it. Since then, the Jilin government has paid greater attention to ecological protection. The nets the fishermen use ensure that they only catch mature fish.
Winter fishing on Chagan Lake was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage item in 2008.
