Winter fishing in Liaoning

Wolong Lake, Shenyang, Liaoning province

Staff workers perform a sacrifice ceremony to the lake at the winter fishing festival at Wolong Lake of Kangping county in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning province. [Photo/Xinhua]

Wolong Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Liaoning province, is located on the northern side of Shenyang and occupies an area of 127.5 square kilometers. Inspired by the fishing culture of the Liaohe River civilization, Wolong Lake's Winter Fishing Festival shows fishing to be an integral part of Khitan culture. Festival attendees can experience ancient fishing methods for themselves.

Staff workers prepare to distribute the fish head soup from the cauldron at the winter fishing festival at Wolong Lake of Kangping county in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning province. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Daliao Culture & Winter Fishing Festival is held annually at Wolong Lake of Kangping county in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning province every winter. During the seven-day festival, a series of activities like an ancestor-worshipping ceremony of the Liao Dynasty (916-1125), a sacrifice ceremony to the lake, and tasting fish head soup will be held. The festival has become a unique winter tourism fair in the northern part of Liaoning.

Local fishermen catch the first fish of the winter fishing festival at Wolong Lake of Kangping county in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning province. [Photo/Xinhua]

It takes the Liaohe River civilization as the basis of fishing and hunting culture, with the Khitan and Liao culture as the main embodiment, injecting the Liao elements into the activity, making it different from other winter fishing festivals. It is also the first festival in modern times to fully show the scenes of the Khitan royal family's activities of winter fishing and their sacrificial rites.

Address: Wolong Lake, Kangping county, Shenyang, Liaoning province

Ticket price: 30 yuan ($4.44)

Ideal sightseeing season: January