Thousands roll up their sleeves and wade into muddy ponds to catch fish

Updated: Jan 28, 2026 By LI MUYUN and ZHU YOUFANG in Changsha chinadaily.com.cn Print

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An annual celebration known as the Gantang Festival, or "Drying Pond Festival", takes place in Gaoli village, Hengyang, Hunan province, on Monday. [Photo by Duan Wenjing/For chinadaily.com.cn]

At 10 am, the starting gun went off, and the half-drained ponds transformed into scenes of joyful chaos. Children in waterproof gear chased smaller fish with nets, while adults teamed up to corner larger catches in deeper sections. Even international visitors joined in, their laughter and shouts rising as mud and water splashed freely. Friends and family cheered from the pondside, capturing the moment as successful fishers emerged, triumphantly holding up their muddy prizes.

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