A single haul can yield 20 to 25 metric tons of fresh fish, Dong said.

Fatemeh Nozzari, a student from the United States who studies at China Medical University in the provincial capital Shenyang, also marveled at the event.

"I never imagined winter fishing would be a tug-of-war-style operation," she said.

Intrigued by videos of past events on social media, she organized a trip with friends to see it firsthand. The abundant fish stocks of Wolong Lake, home to an estimated 10,000 tons of wild fish, left her in awe.

For the people of Kangping, where the lake is located, winter fishing is about more than just the harvest — it's a symbol of prosperity and good fortune for the new year.

Local Yang Di explained the cultural significance to foreign visitors.

"Watching the catch, enjoying fish soup and wishing for abundance in the coming year are all part of our traditions," he said.

To enhance the visitor experience, areas like Songyuan in Jilin province have invested in a program of immersive winter fishing. Initiatives include themed streets, ice and snow amusement parks and interactive fishing zones, providing tourists with hands-on opportunities to appreciate this ancient tradition.

Zhang Sining, a researcher at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, noted that the influx of foreign tourists is raising the bar for ice and snow tourism in China.

"Beyond traditional products, it's crucial to delve deeper into local culture and design offerings with distinctive regional and cultural elements," Zhang said.

Xinhua