Kanas Tourism, Kanas Travel Routes
How to Plan a Route to Kanas
Kanas is renowned as the “Pure Land of Mankind”, with scenery that varies with the seasons and the times of day, creating a breathtaking landscape.
Kanas Section: Peaceful Kanas, Classic 8-Day Tour
D1: All parts of the country – Urumqi
D2: Urumqi – Tianshan Tianchi – Fuyun County
D3: Fuyun County – Koktokay – Burqin County
D4: Burqin County – Hemu Scenic Area
D5: Hemu Scenic Area – Kanas (second visit) – Jiadenyu
D6: Jiadenyu – Colorful Beach – Burqin County
D7: Burqin County –乌尔禾World Ghost City – Urumqi City
D8: Urumqi – All parts of the country
Kanas Lake is embraced by the Altai Mountain forest and formed by the confluence of glaciers. With a lake surface elevation of 1,374 meters and a maximum depth of 188 meters, it is a national nature reserve. The surroundings of the lake are adorned with towering mountains and picturesque forests, creating a breathtaking landscape of lakes and mountains. Even when it is scorching outside, tourists entering the scenic area are required to wear coats and bring rain gear because one can experience the scenery of four seasons in a single day here. In the distance, the Altay Peak is covered in snow, resembling the depth of winter; in the midsection of the mountain, pine forests are lush, and birch trees stand tall and straight, evoking the crispness of autumn. At the foot of the mountain by Kanas Lake, the waves shimmer and seabirds soar. The tour guide said that the flowers in Kanas have already withered in August. If you had come earlier, you could have seen a scene of blooming flowers in a riot of colors; or if you had come later in autumn, you could have witnessed the naturally landscaped scenery with rich and varied colors. At that time, Kanas can be described as a place where trees compete for brilliance, displaying shades of gold, crimson, dark green, silver-white, and other hues in varying depths. Autumn in Kanas is a must-visit destination for photography enthusiasts and the origin of many excellent photographic works. Unfortunately, I will have to miss it this time.
On the top of a mountain by Kanas Lake stands the “Fish-Viewing Pavilion” (perhaps to search for the silhouette of the “lake monster”). From this vantage point, overlooking the panoramic view of Kanas Lake, the beauty is dazzling. The lake water is emerald green, like a piece of jade inlayed among the mountains; it also resembles a smooth silk scarf, gently fluttering in the breeze, with wrinkles appearing momentarily but soon smoothed out, leaving it as clean and shiny as new. Occasionally, a speedboat or two can be seen gliding across the lake surface from afar, as if the silk scarf has been neatly torn by a silver-white sharp object, creating ripples that bring some vitality to the seemingly calm lake.
Approaching Kanas Lake, the water is crystal-clear, with the gravel at the bottom reflecting light to enhance the clarity of the ripples. The surrounding mountains, trees, and clouds are reflected in the water, blending reality and illusion in overlapping layers, making it difficult to distinguish at first glance. There is a pier extending into the lake, and I decided to take a speedboat here for an intimate encounter with Kanas Lake. However, Kanas Lake is not as gentle as it appears from a distance; on the contrary, the lake surface is quite rough, with the speedboat bouncing violently. When the speed increases slightly, it feels like flying. The weather on the lake is unpredictable, switching between sunny and cloudy, and occasionally a large dark cloud drifts by, contrasting with the deep and mysterious green of the lake. At this moment, I couldn’t help but feel a little timid, wondering whimsically what I would feel if a lake monster really jumped out from the bottom of the lake—excitement or depression? Unfortunately, after circling the lake, not even a shadow of a lake monster was seen.
Exiting the Kanas Lake scenic area, we passed by the famous Three Bays along the way: “Wolong Bay”, “Moon Bay”, and “Fairy Bay”. Wolong Bay refers to a winding sandy island belt in the middle of the lake, shaped like a dragon. Moon Bay is located upstream of Wolong Bay, where the riverbed forms several half-moon-shaped bays composed of reverse “S”-shaped curves, winding through the valley. The water surface is as smooth as a mirror, and there are two small beaches in the bay that resemble footprints, known locally as “Fairy Footprints”. Moving forward from Moon Bay, there is a stretch of riverbeach where the river cuts the forest and grassland into small islands that seem connected yet separate. Under sunlight, the river shines brilliantly, and even the leaves on the trees sway in the wind, sparkling as if countless pearls are scattered freely; coupled with the misty surroundings, it feels like a dreamlike fairyland, hence the name “Fairy Bay”. Each bay offers a unique scenery, captivating and unforgettable.
The beauty of Kanas is unforgettable for a lifetime!
Xinjiang Tourism Consultation: (Same) 0991-8585456