The 24th Chagan Lake Ice-Snow Fishing & Hunting Tourism Festival is set to commence on December 28. Following the opening ceremony, the winter fishing operations and related celebrations will continue for approximately 60 days, concluding in late February 2026.
Chagan Lake winter fishing boasts a history spanning millennia and is recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. This year's event features comprehensive upgrades compared to previous years, primarily consisting of the following three segments:
The first segment is a brand-new winter fishing culture theme park. Chagan Lake has created the "Tengyu Ice & Snow Paradise," which includes a beginner ski slope and five 388-meter-long snow slides with a 30-meter drop. It also features a 500-square-meter indoor ice fishing camp with 100 designated spots, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the joy of lake ice fishing. Over 30 ice and snow entertainment activities are available, such as Octopus Drift, snowmobiling, and ice hovercrafts. In the evening, a 30,000-square-meter "Dragon Fish Tribe" area will be illuminated by tens of thousands of fish lanterns, primarily composed of the Dragon Fish Feast, Ice Waterfall Wonder, and Dragon Fish Market areas. The core attraction, the Ice Waterfall Wonder, has been significantly upgraded, extending from 40 meters last year to 268 meters this year. Visitors can watch intangible cultural heritage performances at the 演艺广场 (performance plaza), experience over 30 types of specialty foods at the Dragon Fish Market, or enjoy fresh fish hot pot and 围炉煮茶 (tea brewing around a stove) at the Dragon Fish Feast, immersing themselves in the rich fishing and hunting culture.
The second segment is the core ice fishing experience. Visitors can witness the ancient "Lake Worship & Net Awakening" ceremony and observe traditional fishing methods like manual ice chiseling and horse-drawn winches. This year's winter fishing starts in late December and continues until the Chinese New Year's Eve, with netting operations daily and fish harvesting between 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM each afternoon. The fishing grounds have added interactive activities like underwater blind box experiences, gill net fishing, and photo spots, allowing visitors to engage with the winter fishing culture more closely and enjoyably.
The third segment involves a rich schedule of cultural and sports activities. This year, the opening ceremony of the Chagan Lake festival will be combined with the nationwide Mass Ice and Snow Season events, sharing the same venue and resources. Eleven supporting activities are scheduled around the opening, including an ice fishing carnival, ice lake skiing competition, and Ice and Snow Nadam Fair. Following the ceremony, over 10 continuous activities will run throughout the winter, such as a snow football league and a snow frisbee series.
Zhangjiajie Avatar Tours