Winter brings ice fishing to China's northeast

CHANGCHUN/HARBIN — A school of large fish thrashed about in a mile-long fish seine (a type of fishing net which hangs vertically in the water with floats at the top and weights at the bottom), hauled from the frozen Chagan Lake in Northeast China, as cheering crowds watched.

This spectacle was part of the millennium-old tradition of ice fishing, which has gained modern popularity as part of the country's booming winter tourism sector.

Shamilev Raschid, an international student from Germany, was among the onlookers at the fishing event in Jilin province. He also had the chance to try his hand at the ancient craft, learning how to haul the net through ice holes.

Raschid, who was part of a group of international students from Jilin University, says he finds ice fishing and the harmony between people and nature in the province impressive.

The tradition has emerged as the latest winter attraction in Jilin and neighboring Heilongjiang province, with the two-month season expected to last until mid-February.

In addition to the excitement, fresh fish soup is a visitor favorite. "Northeastern Chinese cuisine is full of flavor, and I'm impressed by the warm hospitality," says Allahverdiyeva Nazrin, an Azerbaijani student.