Chagan Lake Winter Fishing

Background

Chagan Lake lies in the northwest of Qian Gorlos Mongol Autonomous County, Songyuan, Jilin Province, at the tail end of the Huolin River; in high-water periods its water flows through other lakes into the Nen River. It is the largest natural lake in Jilin Province, and locals also call it the “Holy Water Lake”. Winter fishing on Chagan Lake is said to date back to prehistoric times, and Liao and Jin emperors reportedly came here on their spring “nabo” fishing and hunting trips. The “Chagan Nur winter fishing custom” was added to the list of national intangible cultural heritage in 2008 and still preserves an ancient way of fishing: fishermen first worship the lake and wake the nets, then cut holes in the thick ice, feed a net about 2 km long under the ice, and finally haul it out through a hole with a horse-drawn capstan. The main catch is bighead carp. Fry are released into the lake every spring and summer, and the fish grow naturally in the lake for four or five years before being caught.

Local customs

• In the winter fishing season, watch the lake-worship and net-waking ceremony early in the morning
• around noon, see the horse-drawn capstan haul in the net and live fish come up through the ice
• taste iron-pot stewed bighead carp and a whole-fish feast
• in summer, take a boat on the lake and go through the reed beds to watch birds and lotus flowers.

Travel tips

• The winter fishing season usually runs from mid-December to late January
• festival days are crowded, so arrive early. The lake is windy and bitterly cold, so bring plenty of warm clothing and wear non-slip shoes. Fish restaurants are mostly near the fishing grounds and cook the catch fresh.
• First go to Songyuan, then about 1 hour by car to Chagan Lake
• tourist shuttle buses run from Songyuan city, subject to local arrangements. Winter is for the fishing
• in summer the lakeside grassland, reeds and lotus offer a different scene.