Menglian County, Yunnan Province, southwest China - April 12, 2017
1. Various of aerial of people fishing in river
2. Various of fishing carnival participants jumping into river
3. Various of participants catching fish
4. Various of participants handling fish
5. Fish in bag
6. Various of people weighing fish
7. People taking photo of man with fish
8. Man showing off fish he caught
9. Various of onlookers
10. Participants catching fish in river

Locals held a fishing carnival in Menglian County of southwest China’s Yunnan Province to celebrate the traditional Dai New Year on Wednesday.

Thousands of fishermen came armed with simple nets and baskets, packing onto a bridge upon the Nanlei River, readying themselves for the official start of the carnival at 12:00.

As soon as the countdown finished, the army of fishermen leaped into the river, wading into waist-deep water to make a catch as fast as they could.

The fishermen combed every corner of the river with their nets and bamboo baskets, trawling for any aquatic prey.

In just a matter of minutes, some of the fishermen had already caught five to six fish, including catfish and bighead carp weighing more than 10kg.

The carnival, which is now in its thirteenth year, has become a unique activity during the traditional New Year celebrated by the Dai ethnic minority inhabiting the region. It is also called the Water-Splashing Festival and usually falls in mid-April.