Kaihe Fish Festival to open in Togtoh

A file photo shows people celebrate the Yellow River Kaihe Fish Festival in Togtoh county, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia autonomous region in 2018. [Photo/chinanews.com]

The second Yellow River Kaihe Fish Festival will take place in Togtoh county, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia autonomous region from March 16 to 18.

The festival, which was only initiated last year, is planned for when the Yellow River thaws and fishermen are able to catch Kaihe fish, a delicacy unavailable in the winter months.

It aims to attract tourists to the Yellow River and to offer activities based around it.

As a traditional festival celebrating local food, cooks at nearby hotels will be invited to prepare dishes such as traditional fish stew, steamed fish, and fried fish.

Attendees to the festival will also be on the lookout for "jumping carps". According to Chinese legend, if a carp successfully jumps over the waterfall at Longmen (Dragon Gate), it will be transformed into a powerful dragon.

But it won't just be about fish, there will also be cultural performances, fireworks and displays of agricultural products.

According to the national meteorological bureau, the average temperature in Togtoh is 1 degree Celsius higher than in previous years. Ice is set to start breaking up around March 10, with the river completely thawed 10 days later.