You can imagine the amount of people covering every inch and trying to get the best of the Mountain Trout！
WHERE TO EXPERIENCE SNOW
SOUTH KOREA HWACHEON MONTAIN Mountain Trout Ice Celebration
A Unique Celebration of Winter
People across the world look forward to year end as holiday season approaches, especially school children will look forward to this time of the year due to its long holidays. It is also at this time when many plan to travel abroad for a white winter holiday! The preference of the body and texture of snow varies from person to person, for some they like to enjoy snow covered vistas through the windows, many choose to play in the snow feeling its texture and for the rest snow activities such as skiing and snow mobile is a must when on winter holidays. If there is ever a chance to visit Gangwon-do in South Korea in winter, you would know the area is well-known as one of the coldest winters there is, but instead of keeping the locals indoor from the unforgiving winter winds and heavy snow fall, you will find so many people on the Hwacheon Glacier! Spread out in a scene like black sesame seed on white bread!
The festival was first introduced in 2003 and has attracted millions, since then it has become tradition to South Koreans to celebrate it. A wide array of snow activities are prepared for the multitudes of tourist, but the star reason one is here is because of the Trout ice fishing, lure fishing, bare-handed fishing. A fishing hole is drilled 30 cm into the ice, armed with a fish tackle your luck in fishing trout begins! The mountain trouts swims under the ice, with your fishing tackle you would have to bait it!
The mountain trout is not just any river trout. Native only to Gangwon-do Province, the locals has “Queen of the Valley” for the distinctive marks on its sides and for the fact that it has to be a body of clean fresh water below 20 degrees Celsius throughout the year. So it is a must if you have planned your winter holiday to this part of South Korea, do not miss out! Once you have successfully caught the Queen of Valley, immediately cook it and enjoy the sweetness!
Another activity related to the Queen of Valley or mountain trout is the hand painted Mountain Trout Lantern. Its a meaningful and fun filled activity for families. Here you will find the painted mountain-trout shaped lantern hung on door steps and along the roads. Each lantern has its own unique story and meaning, bringing blessings for the year ahead. A burst of warmth to the soul on the cold Hwacheon Mountains.
FACTS：
●CNN has named it one of the Seven Winter Wonders of the World.
●Address: 137, Sancheoneo-gil, Hwacheon-eup, Hwacheon-gun, Gangwon-do
●The festival starts from January 2018 onwards.
●Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival (얼음나라 화천산천어축제)
● Apple Vacations has been organizing tours to Gangwon-do for eight consecutive years and is one of the preferred choice as tour operators.
●South Korea NO.1 Winter Festival
Every year the festival attracts local and international tourist.
There are many activities here, but the most notable one is the Mountain Trout fishing！
Once a catch is successful, you can taste the sweet victory in its flesh, I shall not explain more you have to TASTE it for yourself.
The other uniqueness of the festival is the Mountain Trout Paper Lantern.
Colors of these lanterns come alive at night.
Beautiful night view of the lighted tunnel lined with the paper Mountain Trout along the road.
