Hunan fishing festival reels in visitors

Fishing enthusiasts were hooked by a cultural festival in Linxiang, Hunan province, earlier this month that featured a fishing competition, buoy-making, an exhibition and a sales fair for buoys and fishing tackle. To top things off, lobster was served.

The event runs until Sunday.

Linxiang has 48 lakes with rich fishing resources. Abundant natural reeds offer the raw materials for making buoys. In recent years, the city has developed upstream and downstream products in the industrial chain, including fishing rods, fishing line, bait, tackle boxes, umbrellas, chairs and lights. It also includes painting, packaging, e-commerce and logistics.

As of the end of last year, the city had 1,400 buoy companies and 35,000 workers involved in the sector. The total output value of the industry reached 5 billion yuan ($740 million). Products are sold in Europe, the United States and Southeast Asia.