It is the coldest time of the year but fishermen are starting ice fishing in the Chagan Lake in Jilin. The Chagan Lake is one of China's biggest lakes, and when you look at it from above, it looks like a whale.
Winter here is long and cold. For about 1,000 years, the fishermen have had to break the ice to make a living. For them, it's not only a way of life but also a job.
There are 68 kinds of fish in the Chagan Lake. The fishermen can get hundreds of tons of fish in one catch. The biggest fish in the first catch of the year is the "star" fish, and with its good meaning, it can be quite expensive.
In Chinese culture, the word for "fish" sounds like the word for "good harvest (丰收)". During the Spring Festival, people like to say "Nian Nian You Yu". It means having a good harvest every year. On the night before the Spring Festival, a dish with fish is always on Chinese tables, meaning good luck for the coming year.
