Chagan Lake (查干湖)

Chagan Lake (Chagan Hu) is a large lake in Qian Gorlos County, Songyuan, in northwestern Jilin Province, set in the Mongol Autonomous County area of the Songnen plain. The name comes from a Mongolian word often translated as white or pure. The lake is best known for its winter ice fishing, in which fishermen use horse-drawn teams to haul huge nets under the ice in a tradition led by local Mongol fishers and recognised as national intangible cultural heritage. The winter fishing festival begins from late December and continues into January, with a ceremony, a spectacle of net hauling and the sale of freshly caught fish on the ice. In the warmer months the lake offers lotus beds, reed marshes and abundant waterbirds, with boat rides and lakeside walks, and a Lamaist temple stands on the shore as a reminder of the region's Mongol Buddhist culture. A visit takes about half a day. Admission is about CNY 70, with students at about half price, and the scenic area is open roughly 8:00 to 17:00. The lake is about one hour from Songyuan by taxi or bus. The fishing festival is the highlight and also the busiest period, with crowds on weekends and during the Spring Festival, while summer is calmer. Winter temperatures are extremely cold, often well below minus 20 degrees Celsius, so a very warm winter jacket, boots, hat and gloves are essential, and camera batteries drain quickly. Visitors should watch the fishing demonstration from marked areas and keep clear of working crews and nets for safety. Fresh fish is sold on the ice, and local restaurants cook it.