Kanas Tourism Consultation Hotline: 0991-8585456 181-39622229 (same as WeChat)
If your vacation is long enough, don’t hesitate to go to Kanas!
When mentioning Kanas, many people know it for its most beautiful autumn scenery in China.
But to be hailed as "the God’s Backyard", Kanas is certainly not that simple.
Its four seasons are all like perfect oil paintings:
In spring, the mountain flowers are in full bloom; in summer, it is lush and green; in autumn, it is golden and bright; and in winter, it becomes a kingdom of ice and snow.
And as an area with zero COVID-19 cases nationwide, traveling to Kanas in summer during the off-peak season is not only cheaper and offers a better experience than autumn but also allows you to avoid crowds during the peak season and plunge into a dreamscape created by summer’s green.
There are many online guides about Kanas in autumn. Being different, I will take you to see "the touch of green in Kanas".
01. A Brief Introduction to Kanas
"Kanas" is a Mongolian term meaning "beautiful, fertile, and mysterious". It is a nature reserve woven together by the lost original nomadic tribes, snowy mountains, glaciers, grasslands, rivers, lakes, forests, and other scenery.
It is located in the Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture in northern Xinjiang, in the northwest of the Altay Prefecture. 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 are covered with golden lotuses and wild lilies.
The mountain flowers are in full bloom, as if stepping into a fairyland of green.
Note: Even in summer, bring a thick coat as the temperature difference between day and night is large.
So it’s best to come here in summer to escape the heat.
Next, let me take you on a "virtual tour" of Kanas in summer and see what activities are available.
02. Kanas in Summer: Extremely Green and Fun
After shedding its silvery winter coat for five months, the green of Kanas gradually emerges during spring and summer.
Locals believe that this is the most beautiful season and offers the highest level of entertainment throughout the year.
▶ Kanas Lake
Kanas Lake is formed by the 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".
Starting in May, after the winter ice and snow melt, the lake will gradually thaw, and the lake water will become dark, appearing grayish-blue.
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 Platform
The Fish Viewing Platform is located on the Kalate Mountain at an altitude of 2056 meters.
Walk up the thousand steps to the Fish Viewing Platform, where you can see the Friendship Peak Glacier in the distance and overlook the entire 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. With good luck, you may also see a Hucho taimen over 1 meter in length.
Activity ③: Strolling Along the Lakeside
Strolling along the lakeside, you may encounter two other wonders of Kanas Lake: the kilometer-long deadwood dike and the sea of clouds with Buddha’s light.
Activity ④: Horse Riding & Rafting
The temperatures in spring and summer are the most suitable for horse riding and rafting. See 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 & Shenxian Bay
The water of Kanas Lake winds along the valley, creating three breathtaking scenic spots: Moon Bay, Wolong Bay, and Shenxian Bay.
Activity ①: Watching Morning Fog in Shenxian Bay
Shenxian Bay 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 Shenxian Bay.
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 born here.
▶ Hemu Village
There are only three remaining Tuvan villages in Kanas: Hemu Village, Kanas Village, and Baihaba Village.
Known as the "First Village in China", Hemu Village is surrounded by Birch trees, snowy mountains, and rivers every spring and summer. Wildflowers dot the wooden cabins built from logs.
Activity ①: Watching Sunrise and Morning Fog
The daily prelude of Hemu Village is a duet of morning fog and cooking smoke.
Unlike Shenxian Bay, watching the morning fog here includes forests, valleys, and villages, exuding a living atmosphere and being more intimate and moving.
Activity ②: Encountering 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 one of the most competitive frames 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 luxuriantly.
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 even 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 most beautiful alpine grasslands in the Altay region.
From May onwards, wildflowers compete in their beauty, while Spruce and Fir trees form the Siberian Taiga forest. The grasslands are lush, and herds of cattle and sheep graze in abundance.