Fishermen cast nets on frozen Sayram Lake

(ECNS) -- Zhang Demin, 59, cast nets at dawn on the Sayram Lake with his teammates on Wednesday. It was minus 25 degrees Celsius.

To maintain the ecological balance, fishermen only catch Coregonus peleds weighing more than 700 grams.

The Sayram Lake, hailed as "The pure lake" in ancient times, covers an area of 453 square kilometers. It is an important base for cold-water fishing in Xinjiang.

Since 2016, the lake has implemented a fishing season from the winter solstice to the beginning of April the next year.

The one-meter ice layer of the Lake is covered by snow every winter, forming beautiful scenery.

The winter fishing is referred to "seeking fish through the snow."

Zhang's team can catch about 1,000 kg of fish a day.