Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival (얼음나라화천 산천어축제)

The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival is a unique winter festival that was selected by CNN as one of the “seven wonders of winter” in 2011. The festival is held when Hwacheoncheon Stream freezes over, and visitors can enjoy ice fishing. During the festival, visitors can catch sancheoneo (cherry salmon), nicknamed the “Queen of the Valley,” through holes drilled in the ice and then taste their catch by grilling it or having it prepared at the sliced raw fish center. In addition to ice fishing, there are lure and barehand fishing and fun activities such as sledding, bobsledding, and ice soccer. The festival is a popular event among people of all ages, attracting more than 1 million visitors every year.◎ Sancheoneo Fish (Cherry Salmon) Sancheoneo is a species of fish that belongs to the salmon family and lives in the cleanest valleys with water temperatures of 20°C or below. It is rich in amino acids, essential fatty acids, and vitamins.