The Jingpo Lake scenic area in Mudanjiang, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, recently held its annual winter ice fishing festival. [Photo by Zhang Yingli/For chinadaily.com.cn]

The Jingpo Lake scenic area in Mudanjiang, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, recently held its annual winter ice fishing festival, alongside a competitive ice fishing contest.

Jingpo, the magnificent volcanic lava barrier lake, boasts a pristine ecosystem and abundant aquatic resources, and its winter ice fishing festival has become an iconic event for ice and snow tourism in the province.

The Jingpo Lake scenic area in Mudanjiang, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, recently held its annual winter ice fishing festival. [Photo by Zhang Yingli/For chinadaily.com.cn]

The local winter ice fishing is a millennium-old tradition dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907), when fish harvested through the ice were sent as tribute to the imperial capital Chang'an, today's Xi'an, Shaanxi province.

The fishermen chanted and slowly lowered a massive net into the icy depths. The climax came when dozens of them worked together to haul the net up, revealing a spectacular harvest of fish leaping onto the ice.

The Jingpo Lake scenic area in Mudanjiang, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, recently held its annual winter ice fishing festival. [Photo by Zhang Yingli/For chinadaily.com.cn]

The ice fishing contest attracted about 40 anglers from across China, who set up tents on the frozen lake and patiently awaited bites in temperatures of -20 C.

The festival also vibrated with cultural performances, including drumming, fishermen's songs, the traditional yangko dance, and the lion dance.

The Jingpo Lake scenic area in Mudanjiang, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, recently held its annual winter ice fishing festival. [Photo by Zhang Yingli/For chinadaily.com.cn]

During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) Ningguta was a harsh land in present-day Mudanjiang, and a once-feared cold frontier. Today, the Jingpo Lake scenic area in winter becomes a draw for young travelers who have often heard the name Ningguta from costume dramas.

They can enjoy ice and winter sports, interact with NPCs (non-player characters) dressed in traditional costumes and watch intangible cultural heritage performances, connecting with the past in an engaging way.

The Jingpo Lake scenic area in Mudanjiang, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, recently held its annual winter ice fishing festival. [Photo by Zhang Yingli/For chinadaily.com.cn]

The Jingpo Lake scenic area in Mudanjiang, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, recently held its annual winter ice fishing festival. [Photo by Zhang Yingli/For chinadaily.com.cn]