Xinjiang Chartered Travel: 0991-8585456 1813962-2229 (Same as WeChat)
Some people say, ‘In life, there should be at least two impulses: one for selfless love and one for a spontaneous trip!’ Then, Kanas definitely has scenery worthy of your impulse.
Wolong Bay
It is like a dragon lying horizontally entangled with the green mountains. The Wolong Bay in the morning fog is like a dream. Wolong Bay is composed of a series of winding river bends formed by the long-term lateral erosion and scouring of the Kanas River here. The river flow slows down here, and the water surface ripples gently. Two peninsula-like platforms are developed on both sides of the Ω-shaped river bend, with a crescent-shaped platform above the bend. Two small beaches have developed within the river bend, resembling two giant footprints. Legend has it that even immortals could not resist the temptation of the beautiful scenery and left these footprints when descending to earth to admire the view. The downstream Wolong Bay platform is 800 meters long, 450 meters wide, and covers an area of 36,000 square meters. On both sides of the river bend, luxuriant forests flourish with towering ancient trees. The slopes are dense with coniferous and broad-leaved primitive forests, while above the forests are towering peaks. The peninsula-like platforms on the east and west banks of the river bend are open and flat green lawns covered with wildflowers. Cattle and sheep graze among the flowers and grass, presenting a vibrant scene. Climbing up to the lateral moraine platform at an altitude of 1,500 meters beside the east road and overlooking the Ω-shaped river bend panorama is like seeing a dragon playing in the water, hence the name Wolong Bay.
Moon Bay
Moon Bay of Kanas Lake winds through the valley, with the water surface as calm as a mirror. Within the upper and lower bends of the river, there are two small beaches resembling footprints, which are very unique and are called “Fairy Footprints” by the locals. Regarding these two giant footprints, one legend says they were left by the Western Sea Dragon King when he subdued a river monster, with the intention of stepping on the monster’s meridians; another legend tells of Chang’e specially coming here to steal the tribute – glossy ganoderma lucidum, almost missing her time to ascend to heaven, and leaving these footprints in her haste to rush to the moon; yet another legend claims these are the footprints left by Genghis Khan when he was chasing enemies with swift strides. Regardless of which legend it is, they all add a touch of mystery to Kanas.
Fairy Bay
About 3 kilometers north of Moon Bay is a riverbank where the river cuts the forest and grassland into small islands that seem connected yet separate, known as Fairy Bay. It is actually a swamp shallows formed by the Kanas River in a low and gentle mountain stream. Under sunlight, the river water shines, and even the leaves on the trees sway and sparkle in the wind, appearing at first glance like countless pearls scattered at will. Coupled with the mist often shrouding the area, it is otherworldly, dreamlike, and makes people feel like they are in a fairyland.
Kanas Village
Apart from Baihaba Village, Hemu Village and Kanas Village in Kanas Mongolian Ethnic Township are also villages where the Tuwa people reside in large numbers. In the “China’s Most Beautiful Places” competition hosted by Chinese National Geography and co-organized by 34 media outlets nationwide, Kanas Village was awarded as one of China’s six most beautiful ancient towns and villages.
Kanas Village is located in the Kanas River valley and is an important stopover for tourists traveling from Burqin to Kanas Lake. Here, blue skies, white clouds, snowy mountains, gorges, lakes, and forests complement each other. Paths, wooden houses, fences, cows, horses, sheep, and mountainside wildflowers are visible everywhere, resembling a secluded paradise, and is a place people deeply long for.
It can be visited for three seasons a year. Heavy snow blocks the mountains from early autumn onwards, and thereafter the Tuwa people have to endure a bitter seven-month winter. However, nowadays, tourists surprisingly come here from autumn to spring to experience the thrill of skiing on wild mountain snow. The local government is also fully committed to building the Kanas winter photography, sports experience, and folklore cultural tourism brands, promoting the major development of winter tourism.
The scenery of Kanas attracts everyone who comes here, both with its charming landscapes and the Tuva culture. Those who have been here will come again.
Fish Viewing Platform
The Fish Viewing Platform, with round-trip shuttle bus fare of 120 yuan/person, is a must-visit spot in Kanas. It was first built in 1987 and renamed the Fish Viewing Platform after this renovation. There are three reasons why it is called the Fish Viewing Platform. First, a pavilion typically has a top that is larger than its base, but this renovation has a base that is larger than the top, so it should be called a platform. Also, a pavilion has the suspicion of being self-enclosed, while a platform has an open and outward-facing demeanor, which fits the requirements of progressive times. Second, compared to the homophones of ‘pavilion’ and ‘platform’, there is a lot of significance. For ordinary people, ‘pavilion’ means to stop, while ‘platform’ means to elevate. I come here to travel to seek happiness and good luck, so why would I want to stop rather than elevate? Who doesn’t want to make progress in life and achieve success in their career after visiting Kanas? Third, when looking up at the Fish Viewing Platform from the bottom near the lake, it resembles an incense altar sitting atop the western mountain. When there are clouds or sunset glow in the sky, the incense altar is filled with clouds and mist, with auspicious clouds and fairy aura surrounding it. These three reasons are why it is better to call it a platform than a pavilion.
Climbing the Fish Viewing Platform is the exclamation mark at the end of a Kanas travel itinerary. Without climbing the Fish Viewing Platform, you cannot fully appreciate the extreme beauty of Kanas; without climbing it, you cannot truly comprehend the essence of life.
Kanas Lake
Double Lake Cruise: 120 yuan/person. Kanas Lake is the core essence of Kanas National Nature Reserve. It was formed by strong glacial erosion, with glacial debris blocking the valley and forming terminal moraines that eventually became the lake. The lake is at an altitude of 1,375 meters. It is crescent-shaped, 24.5 kilometers long, with an average width of 1.9 kilometers, an average depth of 90 meters, a maximum depth of 188.4 meters, and an area of 69,000 mu.
With a water storage capacity of 4 billion cubic meters, it is one of China’s deep lakes. The lake is surrounded by verdant coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests, connected to the vast mountainous grasslands.
Hemu Village
Hemu Village is the concentrated living area of the Tuvas, and it is the largest and most distant of the three remaining Tuva villages (Hemu Village, Kanas Village, and Baihaba Village), with a total area of 3,040 square kilometers. All the houses here are built with logs, filled with a primitive charm.
Hemu Village is famous for its enchanting autumn scenery with mountains covered in red leaves. The curling smoke rises amid the autumn colors, forming a dreamlike smoke belt, resembling a fairyland. On the small hills surrounding Hemu Village, you can overlook the panoramic view of Hemu Village and the Hemu River: lonely valleys, bridges over flowing water, horsemen raising dust as they ride through the forest…
Next to the beautiful Kanas Lake in Xinjiang, there is a small mountain village – Hemu Village, which is known as the ‘First Village of China’. Log cabins are scattered throughout the village, a corner of little Hemu Village.
Bridge over flowing water, curling smoke from kitchen chimneys… The quaint mountain village scenery is as mysterious as Kanas Lake.
Xinjiang Chartered Travel: 0991-8585456 1813962-2229 (Same as WeChat)