The 17th Chagan Lake Winter Fishing Festival kicked off in Songyuan city in Northeast China's Jilin Province on Dec 28.

The 17th Chagan Lake Winter Fishing Festival kicks off in Songyuan city, Northeast China's Jilin Province on Dec 28. [Photo provide to chinadaily.com.cn]

A total of 19 activities are scheduled for the festival, which will until Feb 28 next year. They include a photography competition, lake protection seminar, development forum, and a series of activities relating to local folk customs.

A worship ritual, derived from ancient Mongolian culture, was held at the opening ceremony, with Buddhist lamas performing the Chama dance, which is believed to expel evil spirits and celebrate victory against the pagans.

Buddhist lamas perform a dance ritual at the opening ceremony. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Chagan Lake fishermen are China's last remaining fishing tribe. 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 more than a thousand years.

As one of the 10 largest freshwater lakes in China, Chagan Lake produces thousands of tons of carp each year, with this year's annual winter fishing event expected to yield around 1,500 tons.

Two fishermen carry a newly-caught fish at the opening ceremony. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]