Northeast China News Network, January 13th: A millennium-old winter fishing tradition, a bowl of fragrant fish and rice. On January 12th, the highly anticipated 10th China · Jingpohu Lake Winter Fishing Festival grandly opened at the Jingpohu Lake scenic area in Mudanjiang. The thousand-year heritage of Jingpohu Lake winter fishing has heated up this cold winter, once again presenting citizens and tourists with a festive carnival and a grand ice-and-snow feast.
On that morning, the frozen mirror-like lake was abuzz with excitement as performances like dragon dances, lion dances, and Manchu yangko stirred up a lively atmosphere. At 10:58 AM, the immersive outdoor historical reenactment "The Legend of Bohai: The Tribute Journey," accompanied by ancient melodies, marked the beginning of the millennium-old winter fishing tradition on Jingpohu. Rituals such as the tribute ceremony, fishermen harvesting tribute fish, inspecting and loading the catch, sending envoys to the imperial court, and setting off on the tribute journey—scenes reminiscent of the Bohai Kingdom during the Tang Dynasty—unfolded one by one, immersing visitors in the rich regional history and centuries-old fishing culture. "Cast the nets, heave-ho! Catch the lake crucians, heave-ho!" Chanting robust fishing songs, the fishermen slowly turned the large winch, and soon the much-anticipated "first net of the year" emerged from the ice. Fish leaped and splashed in the nets as hundreds of tourists eagerly watched the spectacle, capturing the breathtaking "fish leaping on the frozen river" moment with their phones, their faces lit up with joy and amazement.
The "first fish" from Jingpohu, symbolizing good luck and fortune, has always been a highly sought-after prize by tourists. This year, after fierce bidding, the "first fish" of Jingpohu's winter fishing was successfully auctioned for 100,000 yuan. Visitors at the scene expressed that experiencing the ancient fishing and hunting culture while admiring the winter charm of Jingpohu, along with tasting delicious fish soup, made the trip truly worthwhile. "The sight of fish leaping out of the water is spectacular—it symbolizes good fortune and heralds a prosperous start to the new year, full of abundance and joy," said Mr. Sun, a tourist from Liaoning.
This winter, Jingpohu's first net haul of the winter fishing season yielded 138,000 kilograms, marking a successful start. The fishing culture at Jingpohu Lake dates back to the Tang Dynasty, flourished during the Liao and Jin periods, and has been passed down for over a thousand years. The internationally renowned Jingpohu Lake Winter Fishing Festival has been successfully held for nine editions, once setting a record of 860,000 kilograms in a single net. It has not only earned the title of "National Exemplary Fishery Cultural Festival" but has also driven related industries by embracing traditional cultural roots, achieving a more eco-friendly fishery model and the healthy development of the fishery industry.
The spectacle of fish leaping from icy lakes has invigorated the winter economy, breathing new life into ancient fishing traditions. In recent years, Mudanjiang City has adhered to the "ice and snow+" concept to promote integrated and embedded development of winter tourism and ice fishing production. By further exploring the cultural essence of ice fishing traditions, the city has enriched its comprehensive range of winter tourism products and premium ice fishing travel routes. Through activities like witnessing ice fishing, appreciating folk customs, enjoying winter sports, and savoring local cuisine, the winter fishing season has become a signature brand showcasing Mudanjiang’s unique culture and driving the growth of its winter tourism.
The 10th Jingpohu Lake Winter Fishing Festival in China is hosted by the Mudanjiang Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Mudanjiang Municipal People's Government, and organized by the Jingpohu Lake Management Committee of Heilongjiang Province, the Mudanjiang Municipal Bureau of Culture, Sports, Radio, Television and Tourism, the Mudanjiang Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Mudanjiang Agricultural and Tourism Investment Service Co., Ltd., and the Mudanjiang Jingpohu Lake Tourism Group Co., Ltd.
Author: Tang Fenglai, Bao Yinghan
