As Lunar New Year approaches, families across the Chinese mainland gather around tables laden with symbolic dishes—but one humble favorite unites them all: hotpot. While tech-driven urban lifestyles dominate headlines, 63-year-old Yin Weifeng’s frozen quest in Zhenlai County, Jilin Province, reveals the quiet perseverance behind this tradition.
On the 29th day of the lunar calendar, Yin ventures onto a frost-covered lake, drilling through 40 cm of ice to catch freshwater crab—a prized ingredient for his family’s reunion hotpot. \"It’s not just food,\" he says. \"The steam rising from the pot carries memories of my grandparents. Catching the crab myself makes the connection stronger.\"
Hotpot’s popularity surges during celebrations, with 78% of families in a 2024 survey citing it as essential for its communal nature. Sustainability advocates praise its low-waste model, where leftovers become broth ingredients—a practice aligning with younger generations’ eco-conscious values.
From neon-lit city hotpot chains to rural ice fishing traditions, this dish continues to simmer as a cultural anchor in rapidly modernizing China.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
