Chagan Lake Winter Fishing Ceremony

Chagan Lake, in Qian Gorlos Mongol Autonomous County near Songyuan in western Jilin province, hosts a traditional winter fishing ceremony that has become one of the best-known documentary subjects in northeast China. In the coldest weeks of the year, fishermen cut holes in the thick ice and draw a very long net beneath it, hauling the catch out at dawn while horses, steam and a vast, flat frozen horizon fill the frame. The opening ceremony usually takes place in late December, with fishing continuing into January, and the scene is staged in the first hours after sunrise. The key frames are the net being dragged out across the ice, horses and workers silhouetted against low sun, steam rising from the hole, and the wide expanse of ice and sky. Because the lake is wide and open, the sun rises directly across the ice and the best light is low side or backlight in the first hour; midday light is flat and harsh against the white surface. Temperatures commonly fall between minus 20 and minus 30 degrees Celsius, which is a serious challenge for batteries and skin, so layered clothing and spare power are essential. The event is one of the busiest winter photography draws in the province, particularly on the day of the ceremony and on weekends, so photographers should arrive well before first light to secure a position near the roped viewing zones. Entry to the scenic area is ticketed and arrangements vary from season to season, so visitors should confirm the current charge and access hours locally. Tripods are generally acceptable in open areas but may be restricted near the working crews for safety, and drones are subject to Chinese regulations and local restrictions, so permission should be confirmed before flying. Photographers should treat the workers with respect and avoid stepping into the working area.