Chagan Lake Winter Fishing Festival (查干湖冬捕)

Chagan Lake (查干湖) lies in Qian Gorlos Mongolian Autonomous County, Songyuan, Jilin Province, China, roughly 200 km north-west of Changchun by road. It is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the province and is known for its traditional winter fishing ceremony, in which Mongolian fishermen cut holes in thick ice and haul huge nets by horse-drawn winch. The scenic area is called Chagan Lake Scenic Area (查干湖旅游度假区), and the main festival venue is Nabo Square. From Changchun the journey takes about three to four hours in total, combining a train or coach to Songyuan (about 145 km) with a taxi or chartered car to the lake. A chartered car direct from Changchun takes about 2.5 to 3 hours each way and the price should be agreed in advance. The festival season runs from late December through to the Spring Festival, with the scenic area open about 08:30 to 16:30 and last entry at 15:30 on the listing snapshot. The main fishing event is held in the morning, so a one-day visit means leaving Changchun very early, ideally by 05:30 to 06:00, to arrive before the net is drawn. After the ceremony the area offers a fish market, where the catch is sold and cooked, and visitors often eat fresh lake fish stew at nearby restaurants. The afternoon can be used for walking on the ice, photography and a stop at the lakeside exhibits before the return trip, which should begin by mid-afternoon to avoid driving in the dark. Temperatures commonly sit between -20 and -30 degrees Celsius, so heavy layers, insulated boots and hand warmers are essential. Scenic-area entry was not found in the listings, so the fee should be confirmed on Ctrip before travelling.