Quick Answer: What Is Chagan Lake Winter Fishing?
At Chagan Lake (查干湖, Chágān Hú) in Songyuan, Jilin, fishing crews guide a large net under the frozen lake. People on the ice pass lines between openings. A horse can pull the winch as the crew brings up the net. China added the custom to its national intangible cultural heritage list in 2008.[1][2][3]
- Work: A lead fisher reads conditions and coordinates the crew. The catch depends on people working together across the ice.[2][3][4]
- Ritual: At the season’s opening, ceremony can honor the lake and mark the first use of the net.[1][5]
- Festival: Public events bring visitors to the lake to see a catch hauled up, buy fish and watch ceremonies associated with the season.[6][7]
The best-known image is a net full of fish. The skill behind it lies in coordinating work above ice that hides the water and the catch.[2][3]
From the ice, you can see the workers, horses and ropes. Most of the net is out of sight. The distance between the people on the surface is a clue to how much ground the crew covers.
What Happens on the Ice
| Part of the custom | What people do |
|---|---|
| Reading conditions | The lead fisher uses local experience to choose where the group will work.[3][4] |
| Working below ice | People on the surface use a series of openings to guide the net and lines through the water.[2][3] |
| Bringing up the catch | Fishers can harness horses to a winch that helps pull the net back in.[2][5] |
| Marking the season | A public ceremony can bring together fishers, community members and visitors.[5][6][7] |
The Lake, the Crew and the Net
The lake is in western Jilin in the area of Qian Gorlos Mongol Autonomous County, part of Songyuan. The heritage entry records the Mongolian name commonly romanized as Chagan Nuur (查干淖尔, Chágān Nào’ěr in Mandarin), meaning “White Lake.” The name and practices are tied to this particular community and its mix of fishing skills and Mongolian cultural traditions.[1][3]
The lead fisher, called a yubatou (鱼把头, yúbǎtóu), assesses conditions and directs the work. The crew can use poles to pass a line under the ice between openings and guide the net below the surface. When the net is ready to come up, a horse can walk around a winch to turn it. The mechanical help is easy to see. Years of practice in reading the lake and coordinating people are part of the wider story of Chinese fishing culture.[2][3][4][5]
Why the Lake and Net Ceremony Matters
The local heritage record describes offerings to the lake and an “awakening” of the net. In Chinese, the terms jihu (祭湖, jìhú) and xingwang (醒网, xǐngwǎng) refer to these parts of the ceremony. They give people a way to express respect for the lake and hopes for a good season. Their significance comes from how the local community marks work on the water.[1][5]
The national listing covers the winter fishing custom. It protects a body of knowledge and observances that can include skills, roles, tools and ceremony. The list identifies the local area responsible for safeguarding the tradition.[1]
The Catch Beyond the Ice
A public winter festival stages parts of the work where visitors can see them. Recent reports describe markets near the lake as well as crowds around the haul. Some openings have included an auction for the first fish. Details belong to their particular event and year.[6][7]
The fish are also food and a source of income. The market makes this ordinary side of winter fishing visible alongside the ceremony. Freshwater fish has a place in Dongbei cuisine, and local cooking includes multiple preparations of the catch.[6][7]
FAQs About Chagan Lake Winter Fishing
Where Is Chagan Lake?
Chagan Lake lies in western Jilin in northeast China. The winter fishing custom is associated with Qian Gorlos Mongol Autonomous County in Songyuan.[1][3]
Why Are Horses Present During the Winter Catch?
Horses help turn a winch that pulls in the long net. They work on the ice while the net travels through the water below.[2][5]
What Was Added to China’s Heritage List in 2008?
The Chagan Nuur winter fishing custom entered China’s national intangible cultural heritage list in 2008 under folk customs. Its listing concerns the practice as a whole.[1]
Sources
[1] China Intangible Cultural Heritage Digital Museum. Chagan Nuur Winter Fishing Custom
[2] Xinhua. Fishing in Minus 20 Degrees
[3] Xinhua. A Chagan Lake Winter Fishing Net and the Skills It Carries
[4] People’s Daily Overseas Edition. Fishing and Local Heritage in Songyuan
[5] Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Fisheries Bureau. Chagan Lake Winter Fishing Reopens
[6] Xinhua. Winter Fishing Cultural Festival in Jilin
[7] People’s Daily. Fishing, Food and the Winter Festival