Golden Autumn Kanas Tourism, Northern Xinjiang Tourism, Kanas Lake Tourism
A complete travel guide for first-time visitors to Kanas
When it comes to Kanas, the first thing that comes to mind is the legend of the water monster, which has been discovered countless times before and after.
Today’s content is divided into 3 PARTS
PART 1: Is Kanas large, and do Hemu and Baihaba also count as part of Kanas?
PART 2: Should you stay inside or outside the scenic area?
PART 3: How to arrange your visit to Kanas attractions and how to purchase tickets cost-effectively?
How much do you know about Kanas?
The Kanas scenic area is very large, including the three major scenic areas of Kanas, Hemu, and Baihaba. Separate tickets and scenic area transportation need to be purchased.
*Jiadengyu: It is the ticket station of Kanas. I didn’t know the meaning of this place before. It’s basically a parking lot + ticket office. You can only purchase Kanas scenic area tickets here (160 yuan for the ticket + 60/110 yuan for the shuttle bus. The ticket is valid for 2 days, and the shuttle bus costs 60 yuan for 1 day or 110 yuan for 2 days. The 1-day shuttle bus does not include the Fish Viewing Terrace, while the 2-day shuttle bus does.)
*Main Kanas scenic area: The location of Kanas Lake. It takes about 50 minutes to reach the Kanas transfer center by shuttle bus from Jiadengyu. Then, get off and transfer to your destination. You can transfer here to the Fish Viewing Terrace (additional ticket required), the lakeside, Kanas New Village, or Baihaba Village shuttle buses.
*Baihaba: The first village in the northwest, a Swiss-style village that is more primitive and less developed than Hemu. The village is located within the Kanas scenic area. To visit, you need to purchase an additional ticket and shuttle bus ticket at the Kanas transfer center (30 yuan for the ticket + 65 yuan for the shuttle bus).
*Hemu: Known as God’s private land, it is not located within the Kanas scenic area. You need to take a shuttle bus from Jiadengyu or drive there yourself. Upon arrival at the Hemu ticket station, you need to purchase the Hemu scenic area ticket and shuttle bus ticket again (50 yuan for the ticket + 52 yuan for the shuttle bus ticket). After a 50-minute ride, you will arrive at the Hemu Village transfer station, where you can transfer to the village shuttle bus (small public transport around the village) to reach Hemu Village.
In summary, the main Kanas scenic area is a must-visit. Hemu and Baihaba can be selected based on your schedule. Both are Tuvan villages with a Swiss-like townscape, perfect for artistic inspiration. Personally, I recommend Baihaba Village, as it preserves its original landscape better and has less development. Both places offer morning fog photography opportunities.
Kanas ticket tips
After introducing the overview of Kanas, let me tell you how to arrange your visit to Kanas attractions and how to purchase tickets cost-effectively.
Recommended itinerary arrangements
1-day tour: Visiting only the main Kanas scenic area will take approximately 6 hours. 2-day tour: On the first day, head to Hemu/Baihaba to watch the sunset and experience the Tuvan villages. In the morning of the second day, you can observe the morning fog and sunrise before heading to the main Kanas scenic area for a 6-hour visit. 3-day tour (recommended): You can visit both Hemu and Baihaba. If you have plenty of time, 3 days are highly recommended. However, hahahahahaha, be aware of the prices inside the scenic area. Ticket tips
1-day tour: You can purchase the [ticket for 160 yuan + shuttle bus for 60 yuan] separately. An additional ticket of 40 yuan is required for the Fish Viewing Terrace. For 2 days or more: It is highly recommended to purchase the [Kanas + Hemu + Baihaba 2-day pass] for only 305 yuan, which includes [Kanas ticket for 160 yuan + shuttle bus for 110 yuan + Fish Viewing Terrace shuttle bus for 40 yuan + Baihaba ticket for 30 yuan + Hemu ticket for 50 yuan]. The Fish Viewing Terrace allows unlimited entries, saving you about 100 yuan. The ladies at the entrance won’t tell you about this ticket. You can purchase it in advance on various travel platforms.
Q: Some students may ask, if I stay one night in Kanas Village and come out the next day, do I need to purchase a second-entry shuttle bus ticket?
A: No, the definition of "second entry" is swiping your ticket for the second time at the Jiadenyu Ticket Station. Therefore, if you stay inside for one night or several nights without leaving, you only need to purchase a one-entry shuttle bus ticket.
Lodging Suggestions
There are mainly the following two lodging options in the Kanas scenic area,
Outside the scenic area (Jiadenyu)
Inside the scenic area (Kanas New/Old Village, Hemu Village, Baihaba Village)
Scenery photographed by Xiaoxibei
"Kanas" is a Mongolian term meaning "beautiful and mysterious lake".
Self-driving cars need to be parked at the Jiadenyu Ticket Station, and after purchasing tickets, you can take the shuttle bus to enter the scenic area. After about 50 minutes, you will arrive at the Kanas Transfer Center, where you can take the shuttle bus to the Fish-watching Platform, the lakeside, Kanas New Village, Baihaba Village, and other areas.
The shuttle bus will not stop during the upward journey and will pass by three scenic spots: Wolong Bay, Moon Bay, and Shenxian Bay. If you need to stop during the upward journey, you must communicate with the driver in advance, but the driver will not wait for you; the shuttle bus will stop in sequence during the downward journey, and the vehicle will wait at the same spot.
The lake resembles an emerald, with its color changing with the light, appearing enchanting and mysterious. Many Siberian firs and spruces grow on both sides of the lake, and their leaves will turn golden yellow in late September.
The Fish-watching Platform is located on the top of Luotuo Peak on the west bank of Kanas Lake, with an altitude of 2030m and a height difference of 600m from the lake surface. It was initially built to observe the lake (lake monster), and from the Fish-watching Platform, you can see 3/4 of the lake surface, as well as the nearby villages, snow-capped mountains, and reflections of green peaks.
Scenery of Hemu
The first thing to know is, what can you see when you go to Hemu?
The best times to view Hemu are in June and September, one for seeing blooming flowers and the other for experiencing the deep autumn. The ten days from September 15th to September 25th are every year
Hemu is one of the famous Tuwa villages and also one of the only three remaining Tuwa villages (Hemu Village, Kanas Village, and Baihaba Village). It covers a total area of 3,040 square kilometers, with over 1,800 people in the township, including over 1,400 Mongolian Tuwas, mainly consisting of Mongolian Tuwas and Kazakhs. Their wooden houses are scattered across the mountainous grassland.
Besides taking a walk around the village, there is also an observation deck that is a must-visit for tourists. It is actually a small hillside, from which you can have a panoramic view of Hemu Village after reaching the top. Hemu’s morning mist and sunrise are very famous, as the unique terrain creates a thin layer of mist covering the entire village in the early morning.
Currently, every household in Hemu Village has opened a homestay or restaurant. Students with a larger travel budget can also stay in the village, which is convenient for watching sunrises and morning mist early in the morning. The dining expenses inside are normal for the entire Kanas scenic area, with beef noodles costing 20 yuan/bowl; stir-fried vegetables 40 yuan/plate; roasted sweet potatoes 7-10 yuan/piece (negotiable); and cantaloupe 10 yuan/bowl.t
Xinjiang Tourism Consultation: (Same) 0991-8585456