Northern Xinjiang Tourism Kanas Travel Route Guide
Is there anyone like me who, when traveling to Kanas, has developed a strong interest in a place just by hearing its name before even arriving? It seems like a destined fate, a journey that must be taken once in a lifetime. Kanas is such a place for me. Therefore, before going there, I did my best to learn as much information about Kanas as possible, as being well-prepared is a must for a competent tourist. Now I share what I know with everyone, hoping it will be helpful to you all.
My Understanding of Kanas:
Kanas, located in the Altay region in northern Xinjiang, is a comprehensive scenic area integrating glaciers, lakes, forests, grasslands, pastures, rivers, ethnic customs, and rare animals and plants. It is known as the "Eastern Switzerland, Photographer’s Paradise". Kanas is a Mongolian word meaning "beautiful and fertile, mysterious and unpredictable". Here, spectacular glaciers contrast with serene lakes, and vast grasslands embrace deep primitive forests. The mysterious lake monster, the primitive Tuwa people, the changing lake water, and dazzling scenery all enchant people. In Kanas, you can mainly visit three places: Kanas Lake, Hemu Village, and Baihaba Village. Kanas Lake is the core attraction, featuring the mysterious Kanas lake monster and Fairy Bay, Wolong Bay, and Moon Bay. Both Hemu and Baihaba are villages inhabited by locals, resembling Swiss towns in style, and are fairyland on earth. Many people believe that these two villages are the essence of Kanas. The Kanas Scenic Area is not only rich in natural resources and biological species but also has a unique tourism environment and cultural resources. Kanas combines the magnificent scenery of the north with the delicate beauty of the south. Additionally, there are attractions such as "Sea of Clouds and Buddha’s Light", "Color-Changing Lake", "Floating Wood Embankment", and "Lake Monster", making it a magnificent and fairy-like scenery in the western regions. To the north of the lake lies the snow-capped Kuitun Mountain and the towering Friendship Peak. The lake is surrounded by mountains and hills like a painted screen. Different plant communities are clearly stratified and colorful. Especially in autumn, trees compete for brilliance: gold, crimson, and dark green display their unique charms. The shrubs in the forest are leafy, and moss and wild grass grow on dead leaves and rotten wood. The meadows in the forest clearings are like mushrooms, and the mountain flowers are bright and colorful. When the wind is calm and the waves are flat, the lake water resembles a pool of jade, changing colors with the weather and displaying different charms from morning to night. Whenever clouds and mist swirl around, the snow-capped peaks and spring mountains appear and disappear, as if in a different world. In July and August, after rain on a clear morning, climbing Camel Peak on the southern section of the lake allows you to witness the miracle of Buddha’s Light.
Best Viewing Time:
The flower sea in June and the golden autumn in September are the signatures of Kanas. In June, Kanas is brimming with spring vitality, with endless greenery that makes people reluctant to leave. After a brief summer, the golden September of Kanas arrives, with forests painted in layers of colors. The winter in Kanas, with the lake surface frozen, is equally fascinating.
Kanas also has special winter tourism projects (October 10th – May 10th of the next year), during which some tickets are waived, and there is a "horse-drawn sleigh" project. A Winter Photography Tourism Festival is held every winter.
Surrounding Transportation:
Kanas is located in the Altay Prefecture in northern Xinjiang. The scenic area has its own airport, and you can choose to fly directly from Urumqi to Kanas, with a flight duration of about 50 minutes.
There is no train station in the scenic area. If you choose to take a train to Kanas, you can only take a train from Urumqi to Beitun and then transfer to a bus to Kanas.
From Urumqi, you can take an overnight bus to Burqin and then transfer to Kanas Scenic Area.
It is also convenient to rent a car to Kanas, especially when there are 7-10 people, as it is inexpensive and time-saving.
There are various modes of transportation within the scenic area, mainly including shuttle buses and horse riding, and in winter, there are also horse-drawn sleighs.
Related Fees:
Ticket
Kanas Scenic Area Ticket: Peak season (May 1st – October 15th) 185 yuan, off-peak season (October 16th – April 30th of the next year) 90 yuan.
Children under 6 years old (including 6) or under 1.2 meters tall, and seniors over 70 years old are exempt from tickets; minors aged 6 (not including 6) to 18 (including 18), full-time university undergraduate students and below, and seniors aged 65-70 can enjoy a 50% discount with valid identification, and teachers can enjoy an 80% discount with their certificates.
Shuttle Bus within Kanas Scenic Area: 80 yuan/person
Hemu Ticket: 60 yuan/person
Baihaba Ticket: 50 yuan/person
Tuwa Homestead Visit: 80 yuan/person
Village Maintenance Fee for Hemu Village and Baihaba Village: 20 yuan/person
One-way Ticket from Kanas Scenic Area to Baihaba Scenic Area: 62 yuan/person
One-way Ticket from Tieteketi Township to Baihaba Scenic Area: 62 yuan/person
Boat Ride: 120 yuan/person
River Rafting: 200 yuan/person
Bonfire Night: 168 yuan/person
Opening Hours: 8:30-19:30 (Specific opening hours may vary based on holidays and seasons)
Kanas Lake
Kanas Lake is a mountain lake hidden in the dense forests of the Altay Mountains. Together with Hemu Village in the east and Baihaba Village in the west, it constitutes the main body of the entire Kanas scenic area. Compared to the human landscapes of the other two villages, Kanas Lake captivates people with its mysterious lake monster, changing lake colors, and dazzling natural scenery. The entire lake is crescent-shaped, with the east shore being the inner side of the crescent. Along the shore, there are six platforms protruding towards the center of the lake. The viewing platform at the third bay is the best place to watch the sunset on the lake. The Fish Viewing Platform, located at the top of Camel Peak on the west bank of the lake, offers the best angle to overlook the panoramic view of Kanas Lake. It not only provides a full view of three-quarters of the lake but also allows you to see the surrounding towering peaks and their reflections in the water.
Baihaba
Baihaba Village is a small Tuwa village. Due to its border location, the village has become the "First Village in the Northwest", the outpost beside the village has become the "First Outpost in the Northwest", and even the shallow Baihaba River has become the "First River in the Northwest" without hesitation. It is located on the border between China and Kazakhstan, only 1.5 kilometers away from East Sylek, Kazakhstan, and connected by a national defense highway.
On the way to Baihaba, you will pass a "spiral road" winding along a deep gorge, and across the gorge is the territory of Kazakhstan. Although the border is very close, Baihaba is peaceful and serene. It has primitive forests, log cabins, curling smoke, light morning fog, and generous yet somewhat mysterious residents. They together constitute a fairy tale kingdom. There is an old tree stump with a diameter of over 1m in the north of the village. The sign beside it reads: "I forgot my age". Perhaps whoever comes here will forget the passage of time.
Opening Hours: All Day
Hemu Grassland
In the fault basin between mountains at the confluence of the Kanas River and the Hemu River lies a grassland, which is the Hemu Grassland. The Hemu River divides the grassland into two halves. The shady slope of the mountain is covered with dense forests, lush and verdant. Elk, marmots, and snowcocks inhabit the area, while the sunny slope is covered with green grass and colorful flowers, fragrant and enchanting. Bees are collecting nectar from flowers, and cattle and sheep are grazing all over the mountain, presenting a charming and vast grassland scenery.
Three Bays of Kanas – Shenxian Bay
Shenxian Bay was formed when the Kanas River was blocked and widened by debris flows and collapses downstream. Shenxian Bay is where the Kanas River is located in the Kanas Lake scenic area. The valley here is flat, forming large swamps and meadows along the riverbanks. When viewed from the backlit side, the lake surface shines with fragmented light under sunshine, as if countless pearls are scattered around. Hence, it is also called "Pearl Beach". Coupled with the frequent mist, the mountain scenery, lake, and trees complement each other, creating an otherworldly atmosphere, hence the name Shenxian Bay.
Opening Hours: All Day
Three Bays of Kanas – Moon Bay
Moon Bay is sandwiched between the eastern and western mountains, with the river winding along the mountainous terrain like a crescent moon. The peaks on both sides of Moon Bay are towering, with dense primitive forests and ancient trees. The peninsula-like platform by the river bend is covered with lush green grass. Due to the difference in lakebed height and lighting, the water of Moon Bay exhibits magnificent and ever-changing colors. It is also a paradise for photographers.
Three Bays of Kanas – Wolong Bay
1km south of Moon Bay lies Wolong Bay, named after an island in the water that resembles the shape of a pterosaur. Locals also call it Kazan Lake, or Pot-bottom Lake, because the shape of the lake resembles the bottom of a pot. The forest around the lake is dense, with colorful flowers and lush green grass. The small island in the lake has a beautiful scenery. There is a wooden bridge at the outlet of the lake. Standing on the bridge, you can see the mirror-like Wolong Bay to the north and the roaring Kanas River to the south.
Opening Hours: All Day
Upon arriving here, I believe both you and I will marvel at the magnificent workmanship of nature and feel fortunate to witness such a rare beauty in our lifetime. Kanas is such a place that is unforgettable at a glance, a place where no one will regret coming. I look forward to meeting it as soon as possible, as if I have been waiting for dozens of years, because I know Kanas is waiting for me.
Xinjiang Tourism Consultation: (Same) 0991-8585456