The first catch of the fishing season - a 23-kilogram fish - set an auction record of 2,999,999 yuan ($459,299.84) at the opening ceremony of the festival on the frozen Chagan Lake. [Photo by Han Junhong/chinadaily.com.cn]

The 19th Chagan Lake Fishing and Hunting Cultural Tourism Festival kicked off on Monday in Songyuan, Northeast China's Jilin province.

The first catch of the fishing season - a 23-kilogram fish - set an auction record of 2,999,999 yuan ($459,299.84) at the opening ceremony of the festival on the frozen Chagan Lake.

The buyer, the Zhejiang Chamber of Commerce in Jilin, paid the record sum as a donation to the continued maintenance of the lake, including protecting its water quality and stocking it with fry, according to Shan Guojun, Party secretary of the Chagan Lake fishery.

Despite the extremely cold weather, the event attracted nearly 100,000 visitors to witness an impressive winter fishing ritual on the lake that dates back to the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234).