Which scenic spots in Xinjiang are beautiful to visit in September?
Customized Xinjiang Tours by Guo Jing: 181-3962-2229 0991-8585456
"Kanas" is a Mongolian word meaning "beautiful and fertile, mysterious and unpredictable". It is a nature reserve woven together by the scenery of the lost primitive nomadic peoples, snow-capped mountains, glaciers, grasslands, rivers, lakes, and forests.
It is located in the Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture in northern Xinjiang, in the northwest of the Altay Region. It sits at the "tip of the chicken’s tail" on the Chinese map, bordering Kazakhstan, Russia, and Mongolia.
Moreover, from late June to early July, the grasslands and forests of Kanas will be covered with golden lotuses and wild lilies.
The mountain flowers are in full bloom, like stumbling into a fairyland of green wilderness.
Note: Even in summer, you need to bring a thick coat because of the large temperature difference between day and night.
So come here in summer to escape the heat.
Next, let’s see how to enjoy Kanas in summer.
02. Kanas in Summer: The Utmost Green and Fun
After shedding its silver winter coat for five months, the green of Kanas gradually emerges in 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 Altai Mountains. Besides Changbaishan Tianchi, it is the deepest moraine dammed lake in China and the only alpine lake in Asia with "Swiss scenery".
At the beginning of May, the lake, which was frozen over by ice and snow in winter, will gradually thaw, and the lake water will become dark, presenting a slate gray color.
In June, it will turn into a light green or turquoise color as the surrounding plants turn green.
After the flood season in July, it will turn into a milky white color with a slight blue-green tint.
Activity ①: Climb the Fish Viewing Tower
The Fish Viewing Tower is located on the Kalate Mountain at an altitude of 2,056 meters.
Walk up the thousand-step staircase and ascend to the Fish Viewing Tower. From here, you can see the Friendship Peak Glacier in the distance and overlook the entire Kanas Lake.
Activity ②: Lake Cruise
Take a yacht and listen to the legend of the "lake monster" in the middle of Kanas Lake. If you’re lucky, you can also see Hucho taimen fish with a body length of over one meter.
Activity ③: Lakeside Walk
Walking along the lakeside, you may also encounter two other wonders of Kanas Lake: the one-kilometer-long deadwood causeway and the sea of clouds with Buddha’s light.
Activity ④: Horse Riding & Rafting
The temperatures in spring and summer are suitable for horse riding and rafting. See the scenery from another perspective on horseback or experience the "wildness" of Kanas Lake in such a stimulating way as rafting.
▶ Moon Bay & Wolong Bay & Shenxian Bay
The water of Kanas Lake winds along the valley, creating three stunning scenic spots: Moon Bay, Wolong Bay, and Shenxian Bay.
Activity ①: Watch Morning Mist at Shenxian Bay
Shenxian Bay is a famous spot for watching morning mist.
Sunlight shines on the lake surface through the thick fog, turning the fog into a veil, and later revealing the seemingly connected and disconnected islands in Shenxian Bay.
Activity ②: Hiking on the Plank Path
The three bays are connected by wooden plank paths, making it extremely convenient for hiking.
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 born here.
▶ Hemu Village
There are only three remaining Tuwa villages in Kanas: Hemu Village, Kanas Village, and Baihaba Village.
Known as the "First Village in China", Hemu Village is surrounded by birch trees, snow-capped mountains, and rivers every spring and summer. Wildflowers dot the log cabins throughout the mountain.
Activity ①: Watch the Sunrise and Morning Mist
The daily prelude of Hemu Village is a duet of morning mist and cooking smoke.
Unlike Shenxian Bay, watching the morning mist here includes forests, valleys, and villages, emitting a lifelike and charming atmosphere.
Activity ②: Encounter the Spring and Summer Flowers
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.
Walk into the birch forest, encounter little squirrels, and spend a quiet time in the valley.
▶ Baihaba Village
Baihaba Village, rated as one of China’s eight most beautiful towns 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: Run in the Naren Summer Pasture
The Naren Summer Pasture in Baihaba is one of the beautiful alpine grasslands in the Altay region.
From May, wildflowers compete to bloom, with spruce, fir, and other trees forming the Siberian taiga forest. The water and grass are lush, with herds of cattle and sheep.
Xinjiang Travel Customized Tour Guide Guo Jing 181-3962 2229 0991-8585456