Winter is the best time to enjoy the snow covered landscapes in northeast China. The tourist season begins when land and rivers are covered with snow to welcome ice fanatics. If you are planning your winter vacation and wondering where to go, then Jilin Province in the central part of northeast China is a good choice. In today's ‘On the Road', our guide Ning Yan will take us there and have fun ice fishing and skiing.

Every year in mid-November, Jilin turns into a cold, white world as the land is covered with snow. The province becomes a fun place where people can go fishing in Chagan Lake, skiing in Changchun, the provincial capital or go mountaineering on Changbai Mountain, the country's largest nature reserve and home to the rare Manchurian tigers, snow leopards and wild ginseng.

Our first stop is the Chagan Lake. Located at where two of the major rivers, the Songhua River and Nenjiang, join, the lake covers an area of 420 square kilometers.

Local people here still fish in winter, a tradition they have kept for more than 1,000 years.

Starting at the end of December, the surface of the lake water begins to freeze and the river is covered with ice that is one or two meters thick. Local people break the ice to catch fish in the water. Chagan Lake is the only place that still keeps the ancient fishing style. The place is regarded by historians as a live study in the history of northeastern China.

To mark the beginning of the season, a ceremony is held on the lake to worship and show respect to lake gods as well as to wish for a good harvest and a happy life. During the ceremony, candy, stir-fried rice, fruits and cheese are put on the ice. After dancing and chanting sutras, the articles are put into the holes they dug on the ice to pay tribute to lake gods. The ceremony concludes with the head fisherman making a speech in tribute to the lake gods.

In Chinese tradition, people drink wine to bolster departure. A team of fishermen drink a toast and set out on horse-drawn carriage to find a good place on the lake to cast the net.

The net they use is linear shaped. It is 3,000 meters long and 2 meters wide. The work begins with the fishermen digging holes in a square kilometer area of ice and making one hole every 15 meters.

The net is cast into the river by the fishermen using a rope and a 20-meter long pole drags the net deep into the river. The net is usually kept in the water for 24 hours allowing as many fish as possible to get into the trap.

"I took a taxi from Changchun to see ice fishing here. I've been to many places in the country. And this scene is rarely seen. It is very unique."

"This is a new experience to me. I've heard of ice fishing but this is the first time I've seen it with my own eyes. It's amazing."

Chagan Lake is home to some 70 kinds of fish, such as carp, chub, crucian, and fat head fish which makes a very popular delicious and healthy dish.