Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival (얼음나라 화천 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.

Start date

2026-01-10  

End Date

2026-02-01  

Performance Time

09:00-18:00 (Night fishing 18:00-21:00)  

Venue

Areas around Hwacheoncheon Stream  

Fee

Paid event (Refer to the official for more info)  

Host Company

Hwacheon-gun, Nara Foundation  

Host's Contact Information

+82-1688-3005  

Introduction

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival takes place in Hwacheon-gun, Gangwon with plenty of snow and ice, perfect for a winter getaway. It was even introduced by CNN as one of the "Seven Winter Wonders" in 2011. The main event of the festival, ice fishing, takes place on the frozen Hwacheoncheon Stream. The festival has been visited by more than a million people, attesting to the festival's charm. In addition to the various festival programs such as ice fishing, ice sledding, and bobsled, visitors can get a taste of the freshly caught trout grilled on the spot.

Programs

- Fishing: Ice fishing, lure fishing, bare hand fishing, night fishing
- Snow/Ice Activities: Sledding, bobsled, Eolgomiseong (tunnels, slides), world ice sled, ice soccer