Chagan Lake is a large freshwater lake on the Songnen Plain in north-western Jilin, in the Qian Gorlos Mongol Autonomous County of Songyuan. It is famous for its winter fishing, when teams drag huge nets beneath the ice in a tradition linked to the hunting and fishing rites of the Liao emperors. The lake and its wetlands are a national nature reserve.
- National nature reserve · 2007
Key facts
- Name
- Mongolian, “white lake”
- Plain
- Songnen Plain, Jilin
- Winter catch
- National intangible cultural heritage[1]
- Location
- Qian Gorlos Mongol Autonomous County, Songyuan
Overview
Chagan means “white” in Mongolian. The lake lies in the flat, lake-dotted country between the Nen and Songhua rivers, surrounded by reed marsh, grassland and farmland, and is among the largest natural lakes in Jilin.
In deep winter, when the ice is thick enough to bear horses and trucks, fishermen cut holes in the ice and pass a net hundreds of metres long beneath it, hauled out by a horse-driven winch. The first haul, and its first large fish, are celebrated with rituals led by a fishing master and offered to the lake spirit. The event, known as the winter catch (冬捕), draws spectators from across China and is listed as national intangible cultural heritage.
How the landscape formed
The Songnen Plain is a sedimentary basin filled by the Nen, Songhua and their tributaries, with poor drainage that leaves hundreds of shallow lakes, many of them saline or alkaline. Chagan Lake occupies a low depression fed by the Huolin River and, since the 1980s, by canals from the Songhua that stabilised its water level after it had nearly dried out. The lake is shallow, so it freezes deeply in the long winter, making ice fishing possible.
Highlights
Winter catch
冬捕
The net-fishing under the ice, usually from late December into January, opened by a ceremony of sacrifice to the lake.
First fish
头鱼
The first large fish of the season's catch, traditionally auctioned or presented as a sign of good fortune.
Miaoyin Temple
妙因寺
A Tibetan Buddhist temple on the lakeshore serving the Mongol community.
Mongol villages
蒙古族民俗
Lakeshore villages of the Gorlos Mongols, with their own summer festivals and foods.
Plants and wildlife
The lake and its surrounding reed marshes are a breeding and resting place for water birds on the East Asian flyway. Fish stocks are managed with seasonal closures, restocking and large-mesh nets that let young fish escape.
Plants
Common reed
芦苇
Fringes the lake and its channels.
Wildlife
Bighead carp
胖头鱼
The main fish of the winter catch, known locally for its large head.
Common carp
鲤鱼
Another staple of the catch.
Siberian crane
白鹤
A critically endangered crane that stops on the wetlands of the Songnen Plain on migration.
Culture and legend
Liao dynasty emperors held seasonal camps (捺钵, nàbō) across their realm; in spring they came to the lakes of the Songnen Plain to fish through the ice and hunt geese with falcons, marking the catch of the first fish with a banquet. The winter catch at Chagan Lake is presented as a descendant of these rites and of the fishing customs of the local Mongols. The ceremony — offerings to the lake and to heaven, led by a fishing master — is performed before the first net goes under the ice.
Spring camp
春捺钵
The Liao emperors' spring encampment for ice-fishing and falconry, whose remains have been found around the lakes of this region.
First-fish banquet
头鱼宴
The Liao court banquet held after the first fish was caught.
History
Liao dynasty (916–1125)
Imperial spring camps on the Songnen lakes
Khitan emperors fish through the ice and hold the first-fish banquet.
1970s
Lake nearly dries out
Drought and diversions shrink the lake to a fraction of its size.
1984
Canal from the Songhua completed
Water transfers refill the lake and revive fishing.
2007
National nature reserve
The lake and its wetlands are protected at national level.
2008
Winter catch listed as national intangible heritage
The fishing technique and rites are recognised in the national list.
Through the seasons
Spring
The ice breaks up in April; migrating birds rest on the open water.
Summer
Green reeds, lotus in some bays and a summer fishing season; warm and humid.
Autumn
Cranes and geese pass through; reeds turn gold.
Winter
Bitterly cold, often below −25 °C; the lake freezes thick and the winter catch takes place in late December and January.
Routes and ways in
Winter catch
Spectators watch the net hauls from marked areas on the ice; the opening ceremony draws the largest crowds.
Lakeshore
A road around the lake links the fishing station, temple and Mongol villages.
Practical notes
- The lake is in Qian Gorlos County, Songyuan prefecture, in north-western Jilin, a few hours by road or rail from Changchun.
- Winter temperatures are extreme; insulated boots, face protection and layers are essential to stand on the ice.
- Stay within marked areas on the ice; holes and thin ice near the nets are dangerous.
Cities to start from
Frequently asked questions
Sources
- Jilin Provincial People's Government — Jilin Provincial People's Government (retrieved 27 September 2026)
- Songyuan Municipal People's Government — Songyuan Municipal People's Government (retrieved 27 September 2026)
- China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network — China Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Centre (retrieved 27 September 2026)
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