🍽️ Chagan Lake Bighead Carp

Lake fish stewed with tofu, Northeast fish feast.

Chagan Lake near Songyuan, Jilin, is a famous freshwater lake in Northeast China with a long tradition of winter ice fishing. The bighead carp, known locally as fat-head fish, has a large head and snow-white, tender flesh and is the star of Chagan Lake fish feasts. The classic preparation is to stew the head together with tofu and wide vermicelli in a big pot, yielding a milky, savory broth with delicate fish that holds its shape, while the tofu soaks up every drop. During the winter catch, fish pulled fresh from under the ice go straight into the pot for exceptional purity of flavor. It is a centerpiece of New Year banquets around a steaming pot, symbolizing abundance year after year. It represents Jilin's fishing-and-hunting culture and is famous for the dramatic winter harvest on the frozen lake.