The annual Winter Fishing Festival in Fuhai County kicked off on Saturday at the snow-covered Ulungur Lake in Altay, northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

As Fuhai County is blanketed by snow in freezing winter, the fish in the county's Ulungur Lake are at their tastiest with exceptionally delicate flesh.

For over five decades, fishermen have dug holes in the lake's frozen surface, cast nets and hauled tonnes of fish up through the ice. The county has turned the tradition into a cultural event by holding a winter fishing festival, attracting tens of thousands of tourists every year.

The first carp fish was sold for 428,888 yuan (about $62,700) in an auction during the festival.

Deng Yalan, a resident of Fuhai County, said: "Many people couldn't come, but we can show them the winter fishing festival in our hometown by live streaming."

"It's our first time to participate in the fishing festival. We feel that people here are hospitable. Also, there are many delicacies here, especially fish dishes," said Yan Chao, a tourist from Urumqi, "This year, we're going to get some blessings of the fish, and take them home."