The 23rd Ice and Snow Fishing and Hunting Cultural Tourism Festival opened at Chagan Lake in Jilin on Saturday. [Photo by Jiang Dong/chinadaily.com.cn]

The 23rd Ice and Snow Fishing and Hunting Cultural Tourism Festival opened on Saturday at Chagan Lake in Songyuan city, Jilin province.

Chagan Lake, one of China's top 10 freshwater lakes, is the largest inland lake in Jilin. It is renowned for its crystal-clear waters and abundant fish resources, housing over 60 species, including carp, grass carp and crucian carp.

From the winter solstice to Chinese New Year, Chagan Lake serves as a prime fishing ground for local fishermen who practice traditional Mongolian fishing methods.

This cultural practice has also been recognized as a national-level intangible cultural heritage in China, attracting numerous tourists each year.

In recent years, Songyuan has been utilizing its ice and snow resources to develop into a prominent hub for ice and snow sightseeing and winter fishing.

The 23rd Ice and Snow Fishing and Hunting Cultural Tourism Festival opened at Chagan Lake in Jilin on Saturday. [Photo by Jiang Dong/chinadaily.com.cn]

The 23rd Ice and Snow Fishing and Hunting Cultural Tourism Festival opened at Chagan Lake in Jilin on Saturday. [Photo by Jiang Dong/chinadaily.com.cn]