Record 2.96m yuan paid for first catch of winter fishing season

The first catch of the fishing season - a 13-kilogram fish - set an auction record of 2.96 million yuan ($423,000) at the opening ceremony of the annual fishing and hunting festival on frozen Chagan Lake in Northeast China's Jilin province on Saturday.

The buyer, Fujian Panpan Foods, paid the record sum as a donation to the well-being of the lake, including protecting its water quality and stocking it with fry.

Despite the extremely cold weather, the 18th Chagan Lake Fishing and Hunting Cultural Tourism Festival attracted more than 100,000 visitors to witness an impressive winter fishing ritual on the lake that dates back to the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234).

Dances were performed by Buddhist lamas and the head fisherman addressed heaven, the land and the lake in chants, asking for a good harvest and a safe fishing season.

After he signaled the spot where fish were expected to gather, more than 400 holes were drilled around the spot, 60 meters apart.

About 60 fishermen worked together to cast a 2,000-meter-long net through the holes and under the ice. Several hours later, the net, filled with many metric tons of fish, was pulled out by horses.

"I feel so lucky to appreciate such a visual feast," said Wang Jiaqi, a tourist from Shanghai. "It is so spectacular and I can also feel the strong cultural atmosphere."

Chagan Lake, the country's seventh-largest lake and the largest freshwater body in northeastern China, is home to 68 varieties of fish.

In the following 40 days, hundreds of fishermen will work on the frozen lake.

"The quota meets the needs of the market and maintains the ecological balance," the head fisherman said. "Furthermore, we choose nets with relatively large holes that help catch adult fish and allow the smaller fry to escape. Only in this way can we go fishing every year."

The traditional skills required for Chagan Lake winter fishing are now listed among China's intangible cultural heritage.

"The quality of the environment in the region has been constantly improved while the excellent traditional hunting and fishing culture has been preserved," said Cao Baoming, an expert on Jilin folk culture and literature. "It is the persistence of the culture that promotes the green development of Chagan Lake."

During the festival, 19 activities will be held, including a winter fishing contest, an ice dragon boat contest and an international cross-country skiing race.