The 24th Chagan Lake Fishing and Hunting Cultural Tourism Festival opens tomorrow in Jilin Province’s Songyuan City, blending millennia-old traditions with modern winter attractions. Recognized as a national-level intangible cultural heritage, the event showcases ancient ice-cutting techniques and horse-drawn net fishing that have thrived in northeast China for generations.
This year’s festival introduces a 230,000-square-meter ice and snow amusement park, offering over 30 activities including a 500-square-meter heated ice-fishing dome with 100 dedicated spots. A new ice-lake ski area capable of hosting 2,000 visitors simultaneously adds contemporary flair to the cultural showcase, which runs until just before Spring Festival.
Key highlights include:
Live demonstrations of traditional winter fishing methods
Interactive experiences in the air-supported fishing camp
Ski facilities built directly on the frozen lake surface
Organizers emphasize the festival’s role in preserving heritage while boosting regional tourism, with capacity for 3,000 concurrent visitors at peak times.
