"Haul the nets for fish!" Around 10 a.m. on December 27th, amidst the thunderous chants of net-pulling, the much-anticipated "2022 Heilongjiang Cold Water Fish · Winter Fishing Season" series event, the grand Jingpohu Lake Winter Fishing Ceremony, officially commenced.

On that day, the frozen surface of the West Lake of Jingpohu Lake was adorned with colorful flags, resounding drums, and bustling crowds. The majestic wind-flag array performance marked the beginning of the winter fishing ceremony, while traditional Manchu yangko dances, octagonal drum performances, and Taiping drum shows kept elevating the festive atmosphere to new heights.

Subsequently, following the ancient winter fishing tradition of the ancestors, a ritual was held to worship the lake god and awaken the winter nets—the "Sacrifice to the Lake and Awakening of the Nets" ceremony. Dressed in white sheepskin coats with belts tied around their waists, the fishermen reverently offered grains, purified their hands and burned incense, performed ceremonial dances, and loudly recited the prayers for the lake and the nets. The scene seemed to transport people back to that distant era.

Finally, the fishermen raised their heads and drank a hearty farewell toast before marching valiantly toward the fishing hole on the frozen lake.

"Under the blazing sun, facing a vast expanse of snow, with strength in their feet and backs, the men pulling the nets wear broad smiles!" The moment of hauling in the nets is the most thrilling part of the winter fishing. As the fishermen chant in high spirits, the large rubber wheels begin to turn, pulling the 2,400-meter-long net out of the ice hole like a conveyor belt gliding across the frozen surface.

In an instant, countless fish—bighead carp, grass carp, common carp, mandarin fish—burst forth endlessly from beneath the ice amidst swirling mist, rolling and leaping on the frozen surface, their silver scales glittering in the sunlight, a truly joyous sight. Viewed from above, the fish leaping across the ice lake paint a breathtaking picture amid the snowy landscape.

The emergence of the "lucky first fish" brought cheers from the surrounding tourists, who eagerly crowded forward for a closer look, hoping to share in the blessing of "abundance year after year." Each of those big fish became the most dazzling stars, chased by people eager to snap photos with them.

The Three Flowers, Five Luos, and Seventy-two Miscellaneous Fish—all can be found in Jingpohu." According to experts, the wild fish in Jingpohu Lake thrive in its natural waters with long growth cycles, making them typical alpine cold-water wild fish. Their nutrients come from plankton and the food chain in the natural waters. The fish grow slowly in the lake, taking about four years to reach 4–6 jin (2–3 kg). Their flesh is firm, elastic, and delicate in texture, offering a delicious taste and high nutritional value comparable to deep-sea fish.

To better protect and utilize the high-quality aquatic resources of Jingpohu, relevant departments and enterprises released 230,000 red-tailed fish fry and 2.09 million silver carp and bighead carp fry into the lake this year. This initiative aims to further enhance the reputation and influence of Mudanjiang's aquatic resources both domestically and internationally, and to accelerate the development of the local fisheries industry.

During the "Winter Fishing Festival" event, a variety of activities were held simultaneously, including ice football, snowmobiling, lake fish exhibitions, the "World's Largest Pot + 18 Fish Pots" fish stew tasting, and the launch of new ice and snow equipment. These activities allowed participants not only to appreciate the folk traditions of winter fishing blessings and the charm of fishing and hunting culture but also to experience the joy of ice and snow sports. Additionally, they could witness the new development model of the modern cold-water fish industry, transforming "cold resources" into a "hot economy."