Jingpo Lake (frozen)

Jingpo Lake in winter transforms from a forested mountain lake into a vast expanse of thick ice, typically frozen solid from December through March. The frozen surface is used for traditional ice fishing — locals drill holes through 50–80 cm of ice and lower lines into the cold water below, catching the lake's prized white fish. Organised ice fishing festivals draw visitors to try the sport. The surrounding forests, blanketed in heavy Manchurian snowfall, are extraordinarily beautiful in the deep cold, with ice formations along the shores and frozen waterfalls in the gorges feeding the lake. The Diaoshuilou Waterfall, normally 12 metres high and 300 metres wide, freezes into a spectacular curtain of ice columns in the coldest months. Snowmobile and sled rides across the frozen lake surface are offered from the lakeside resort area. Temperatures regularly reach -30°C; dress in extreme-cold gear.