How to enjoy Kanas in winter? What are the winter tourism activities in Kanas?
Tourism Consultation (Same)
Winter in Xinjiang is like a winter fairy tale in the northwest. Here, the waters are crystal clear, the mountains undulate, and the forests are dense, creating a beautiful landscape. In winter, Kanas resembles a fairy tale ice and snow world. The snow-covered ice lake, under the blue sky, with the Jade Belt-like Kanas winding beneath glaciers and snowy mountains, is truly captivating.
Why choose to visit Xinjiang in winter? What makes the winter tourism in Kanas different?
①Worth Seeing
Compared to the blooming flowers of spring, the lush green grass of summer, and the brightly colored forests of autumn, Xinjiang’s winter is extremely cold and long. However, within this season that makes you grit your teeth with cold, there lies pure and stunning scenery that cannot be seen anywhere else or at any other time.
Winter in Xinjiang is like a winter fairy tale in the northwest. Here, the waters are crystal clear, the mountains undulate, and the forests are dense, creating a beautiful landscape. In winter, Kanas resembles a fairy tale ice and snow world. The snow-covered ice lake, under the blue sky, with the Jade Belt-like Kanas winding beneath glaciers and snowy mountains, is truly captivating.
In the morning light, Hemu Village is like a fairyland filled with morning mist. Sunlight spills over the courtyards of Hemu, and the snow reflects dazzling waves of light, bringing vitality to the entire village. In winter, Hemu is covered in silver and white, beautiful and elegant, as well as generous.
Here, you can experience the true beauty of the northern region, with thousands of miles of frozen land and snow-covered worlds.
②Low consumption
Compared to the high prices of air tickets, train tickets, scenic spot entrance fees, shuttle bus tickets, and accommodation fees in summer and autumn, winter in Xinjiang is much more wallet-friendly…
Major transportation: In winter, the cost of air tickets and train tickets to Xinjiang is very cheap. Direct flights from popular cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen cost between 300 and 1000 yuan for a one-way ticket. Train tickets also range from 500 to 800 yuan for a one-way trip. Air ticket prices are even cheaper than long-distance train tickets.
Entrance fees: As everyone knows, the biggest expense of traveling to Xinjiang is the entrance fees and shuttle bus fees for scenic spots. Compared to other tourist cities, these fees are quite astonishing. But in winter, due to restrictions, the entrance fees for scenic spots are reduced, and shuttle buses can be replaced by our own vehicles. Especially in northern Xinjiang, the combined entrance fees for the three scenic spots of Kanas, Hemu, and Baihaba during summer and autumn are 340 yuan per person. However, in winter, a single ticket covering all three scenic spots costs only 90 yuan per person.
Accommodation costs: In popular destinations such as Kanas, Hemu, Baihaba, and Burqin during summer and autumn, the average accommodation cost per person per night is around 300 yuan. However, in winter, the accommodation cost is only around 130 yuan per person.
③Relaxing and enjoying
Every summer and autumn, there is a continuous stream of tourists visiting Xinjiang. During these times, it is not surprising to see long queues at scenic spot ticket offices and shuttle bus stops. However, Kanas is not well-known in winter, so there are fewer visitors. During this time, you can enjoy the natural beauty to your heart’s content without worrying about being disturbed.
What can you do in Kanas, Xinjiang during winter?
①Soaking in hot springs
Soaking in hot springs during winter is very beneficial to physical and mental health, as the alternating hot and cold temperatures can dilate and constrict skin blood vessels, promoting blood circulation and metabolism. The Wucaiwan Ancient Sea Hot Spring Resort is an excellent place for soaking in hot springs. In winter, it has a unique charm, with light snow floating and the ground covered in silver light. The hot spring pools are bustling with people, creating a scene of misty beauty. After bathing in the hot springs, skating in a bathing suit is also a spectacular sight. The setting sun and its afterglow will allow you to let go of your worries and let your thoughts wander to ancient times. At night, you can gaze up at the starry sky. The Wucaiwan Ancient Sea Hot Spring Resort is also conveniently located on the golden route to the Kanas Scenic Area and serves as an important tourist hub and transit point. Taking a break while soaking in the hot springs and enjoying the warmth of winter is an excellent experience during the winter season.
②Take a Horse-Drawn Sleigh
Visiting Kanas in winter, taking a horse-drawn sleigh is the most interesting mode of transportation. Riding on snow over a meter deep, fully experience the atmosphere of "not a single bird in the sky, nor a footprint on the ground" in the silent valley.
Before Kanas opened winter tourism, the long winter in the Kanas area was blocked by heavy snow, and connections with the outside world could only be made by horse-drawn sleighs. Taking a sleigh to witness this unique scenery is also the purpose of tourists visiting in winter. In recent years, Kanas has opened winter tourism activities, and with better transportation options, taking a horse-drawn sleigh has become an even more unique experience. You can choose to take a horse-drawn sled to the beautiful peak of Hemu. Sitting on a horse-drawn sleigh, shuffling through the vast sea of trees, walking in the world of snow, the scenery along the way will amaze you, as if the snow is pouring over you from all directions. All the way, the hooves of the horses, the neighing, the magnificent scenery, and the joy;
③Cross the Snow Wall
Kanas is the scenic area with the highest latitude in Xinjiang, with a winter lasting for more than half a year. In winter, the snow is heavy and the wind is strong. When the snow on flat ground is the thickest, it can reach about two meters. In recent years, Kanas Scenic Area has opened winter tourism activities and specially purchased snowplows to ensure the normal progress of winter travel within the scenic area. Nowadays, snowplows have become a standard configuration for Kanas Scenic Area in winter, providing logistical support for the scenic area’s winter operations. As the snow accumulates thicker and thicker, thick "snow walls" are formed on both sides of the road, reaching a height of one to two meters. The "snow walls" not only prevent vehicles and other transportation from sliding off the road but will also gradually form a unique landscape.
④Experience the Tuvan Log Cabin
The Altay region is dominated by the Tuvans. The log cabins have become a symbol of the Tuvans, appearing particularly primitive and rustic, with traditional characteristics of nomadic peoples. The Tuvans, in an environment far from the civilized world, make full use of local resources to build log cabins with European style that are warm in winter and cool in summer. The roofs are generally made of wooden planks nailed into an A-frame canopy, and the bodies of the houses are stacked with single-layer logs with a diameter of thirty to forty centimeters, which are both warm and moisture-proof. People who have visited the places where the Tuvans live will first see the European-style log cabins. These wooden houses with pointed roofs and square bases, although simple in structure, are very practical. Living in the Tuvan log cabin, drinking the milk tea or kumys made by herdsmen, and tasting the special foods of Xinjiang has become an indispensable unique experience for tourists.
⑤ Viewing Sunrise, Morning Fog, and Panoramic View from Hemu Village Viewing Platform
In the morning, climb up to the viewing platform on the mountain next to Hemu Village to capture the sunrise and morning fog over the village. Standing at the top of the mountain, looking down at the wooden houses as the sunlight gradually spreads, you will overlook this primitive village that resembles a fairyland. The cooking smoke rises slowly, forming a dreamlike smoke belt, as if this scene can only be described in a fairy tale.
⑦ Viewing Snowy Mushrooms at Kanas Lake
Every winter, Kanas Lake presents a breathtaking scene of snowy mushrooms, making people marvel at the wonders of nature. On the white snowfield, clusters of snow mushrooms look so magical under the setting sun, and the snow in the water appears even more pure and creamy, like a fairy-tale ice and snow world! You can step on the snow mushrooms like a child, leaving your cute footprints…
⑧ Viewing Kanas Rime Ice
After passing Tuojing Bay, follow the Kanas River upstream, and the crystal-clear rime ice corridor will lead you into a dreamlike world. Here, there are girls singing and dancing gracefully, young scholars reciting poems with refinement, children playing lively, and old men with silver hair showing kindness and wisdom. There are ‘white orchids’, ‘white plum blossoms’, ‘silver chrysanthemums’, and ‘reed flowers’; there are also ‘snowcocks’, ‘snow rabbits’, ‘snow deer’, and ‘snow butterflies’. Moreover, the rime ice here lasts for a long time, so you don’t have to worry about it disappearing quickly.
How many days should I spend in winter in Xinjiang, and how should I plan my trip?
Winter in Xinjiang is extremely cold, with an average temperature of around -13°C, and in Kanas, it’s around -18°C, sometimes dropping to -30°C. Therefore, it is not recommended to stay for too long. If you want to have a good experience without regrets, 7 days is the best choice, allowing you to take a scenic route without backtracking and visit classic attractions.
What basic knowledge do I need to know for winter tourism in Kanas, Xinjiang?
① Winter Travel Equipment
Equipment: A 20L daypack for personal use, a pair of trekking poles, a vacuum flask, a waterproof bag (snowfall is heavy in winter, and trekking poles are useful when going to the viewing platform in Hemu).
Skincare Essentials: Lip balm, sunscreen, skincare products, facial masks (especially for girls, as Xinjiang is very dry).
A tripod is essential, as the night sky is always bright, whether in Kanas or Hemu.
② Sunshine Duration
The sunshine duration in Xinjiang in winter is shorter than that in summer, with sunrise around 8:30 AM and sunset around 7:00 PM.
What is the average temperature in Xinjiang in winter, and what should I wear?
Winter Temperature: Xinjiang is very cold in winter, with an average temperature of around -13°C. The average temperature in Kanas is around -18°C, and it can get as cold as -30°C. Dressing Guide: Waterproof jacket and pants, down jacket, snow boots with anti-slip soles, quick-drying underwear, disposable underwear (due to inconvenience of bathing and drying clothes in winter), high-cut hiking boots + snow gaiters, more than 2 pairs of hiking socks, windproof gloves (both full-finger and half-finger), hand warmers, knee pads, sunglasses + ski goggles, fleece-lined hats with nose vents, sun hats.
Winter Tourism Consultation for Kanas (Same)