Xinjiang Kanas autumn travel guide, Kanas free-and-easy travel in autumn
Xinjiang Travel Customized Tour Guide Guo Jing 181-3962 2229 0991-8585456
When it comes to Kanas, many people know that it boasts the most beautiful autumn scenery in China.
But to be hailed as "God’s Back Garden", Kanas is certainly not so simple.
Every season of the year is a perfect oil painting:
The spring is filled with blooming mountain flowers, the summer is lush and green, the autumn is golden and splendid, and the winter is a kingdom of ice and snow.
And as a region with zero COVID-19 cases nationwide, visiting Kanas in the summer off-peak season is not only cheaper and offers a better experience than in autumn, but also allows you to avoid the crowds during the peak season and plunge into the dreamscape created by summer green.
There are many online guides about Kanas in autumn. As someone different, I will take you to see "that touch of green in Kanas".
01. First, let’s briefly understand Kanas
"Kanas" is a Mongolian word meaning "beautiful and fertile, mysterious and unpredictable". It is a nature reserve formed by the scenery of the lost primitive nomadic peoples, snow-capped mountains, glaciers, grasslands, rivers, lakes, and forests.
It is located in the Yili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture in northern Xinjiang, in the northwest of the Altay Prefecture. It is at the "tip of the chicken’s tail" on the Chinese map, bordering Kazakhstan, Russia, and Mongolia.
Moreover, from the end of June to the beginning of July, the grasslands and forests of Kanas will be filled with golden lotus and wild lilies.
The mountain flowers are in full bloom, like accidentally stumbling into a fairyland of green fields.
Note: Even in summer, you need to bring a thick coat as the temperature difference between morning and night is large.
So come here in summer to escape the heat.
Next, let’s see how Kanas in summer can be enjoyed.
02. The greenest and most enjoyable Kanas in summer
After shedding its silver winter coat for five months, the green of Kanas gradually emerges during spring and summer.
Locals believe that this is the most beautiful season of the lake, and it is also the most enjoyable time of the year.
▶ Kanas Lake
Kanas Lake is formed by the great glaciers of the Altay Mountains. Besides Changbaishan Tianchi, it is the deepest glacial dammed lake in China and the only alpine lake in Asia with "Swiss scenery".
At the beginning of May, the lake, which was frozen by winter ice and snow, will gradually melt, and the lake water will become dark, presenting a steely gray color.
In June, it turns light green or azure blue as the surrounding plants turn green.
After the flood season in July, it turns into a milky white color with a slight blue-green tint.
Activity ①: Climbing the Fish-Viewing Terrace
The Fish-Viewing Terrace is located on the Kalat Mountain at an altitude of 2056 meters.
Walk up the thousand steps to the Fish-Viewing Terrace. From here, you can overlook the Friendship Peak Glacier in the distance and have a panoramic view of Kanas Lake.
Activity ②: Boating on the Lake
Take a yacht and listen to the legend of the "lake monster" in the middle of Kanas Lake. If you’re lucky, you may also see a taimen over 1 meter in length.
Activity ③: Walking Along the Lakeside
Walking along the lakeside, you may also encounter two other wonders of Kanas Lake: the kilometer-long deadwood dike and the sea of clouds and Buddha’s light.
Activity ④: Horseback Riding & Rafting
The temperatures in spring and summer are suitable for horseback riding and rafting. View the scenery from another perspective on horseback or experience the "wildness" of Kanas Lake in such an exciting way as rafting.
▶ Moon Bay & Wolong Bay & Shenxianwan
The water of Kanas Lake winds along the valley, creating three stunning scenic spots: Moon Bay, Wolong Bay, and Shenxianwan.
Activity ①: Watching Morning Fog in Shenxianwan
Shenxianwan is a famous place to watch morning fog.
Sunlight shines through the thick fog onto the lake surface, turning the thin fog into a veil, revealing the seemingly connected and disconnected islands in Shenxianwan.
Activity ②: Hiking on the Wooden Plank Path
The three bays are connected by wooden plank paths, making it extremely convenient for hiking tours.
On the wooden plank path, listen to the rustling of the wind through the trees and the chirping of birds. The symphony of nature is thus born.
▶ Hemu Village
There are only three remaining Tuwa villages in Kanas: Hemu Village, Kanas Village, and Baihaba Village.
Hemu Village, known as the "First Village in China", is surrounded by birch trees, snowy mountains, and rivers every spring and summer. It is also dotted with wildflowers and small wooden cabins built from logs.
Activity ①: Watching Sunrise and Morning Fog
The daily prelude of Hemu Village is a collaboration of morning fog and cooking smoke.
Unlike Shenxianwan, watching the morning fog here, with forests, valleys, and villages, exudes a lifelike atmosphere and is more intimate and moving.
Activity ②: Encountering Flowers in Spring and Summer
In spring and summer, colorful wildflowers, together with blue skies, white clouds, snowy peaks, clear waters, wooden cabins, and jungles, constitute a competitive scene in the beauty of Kanas.
There is no need to deliberately search for scenic spots, as every angle is very "photogenic".
Activity ③: Treasure Hunt and Photo Taking in the Birch Forest
In the northern Xinjiang in summer, plants grow freely.
Walking into the birch forest, you may encounter little squirrels and spend a peaceful time in the valley.
▶ Baihaba Village
Baihaba Village, rated as one of the eight most beautiful towns in China by Chinese Geography, is quieter and more beautiful than Hemu Village.
It is only 1.5 kilometers away from the China-Kazakhstan border, so a border pass must be obtained in Kanas to enter.
Activity ①: Running in the Naren Summer Pasture
The Naren Summer Pasture in Baihaba is one of the beautiful alpine grasslands in the Altay region.
From May onwards, wildflowers compete in beauty, while spruce, fir, and other trees form the Siberian taiga forest. The water and grass are lush, and herds of cattle and sheep graze in abundance.
Xinjiang Travel Customized Tour Guide Guo Jing 181-3962 2229 0991-8585456