Kanas Tourism Consultation: 0991-8585456 1813962-2229 (same as WeChat)
About Kanas: ‘Kanas’ is a Mongolian term meaning ‘beautiful and rich, mysterious and unpredictable’. It is renowned for the picturesque scenery formed by Kanas Lake and the surrounding snow-capped mountains, grasslands, and birch forests, and is known as the ‘Eastern Switzerland, Photographer’s Paradise’. Hemu-Kanas is a comprehensive scenic area integrating glaciers, lakes, forests, grasslands, pastures, rivers, and rare animals and plants. Here, the spectacular glaciers contrast with the serene lakes, and the vast grasslands encompass deep primitive forests. The mysterious lake monster, the quaint Tuwa people, the changing lake water, and the dazzling scenery will captivate you.
Transportation: Most tourists to Kanas first arrive in Urumqi and then travel to the Kanas scenic area from here. Among all transportation options, chartering a car is relatively convenient and allows for sightseeing along the way.
Airplane: Kanas Airport is located about 75 kilometers northwest of Burqin County, with daily flights to and from the capital Urumqi. The airport is about 50 kilometers away from the scenic area, and there are buses directly to the scenic area.
Long-distance Passenger Transport: There are buses from Urumqi Nianzigou Bus Station to Burqin County, taking about 10 hours and covering a total distance of about 700 kilometers. Burqin County Bus Station has buses to Dajiadenyu, with one bus per day, taking about 2.5 hours and covering a total distance of about 140 kilometers. Upon arrival at Dajiadenyu, you can take the shuttle bus within the scenic area to get to the lake area.
Chartered Car: This is a convenient mode of transportation to Kanas Lake scenic area, and you can also visit attractions along the way.
Transportation within the scenic area: Scenic area shuttle buses (fare included in the ticket price) from the Jiadengyu Ticket Office to the Kanas Village Transfer Center within the scenic area take about 40 minutes one-way. Approximate operating times for the shuttle buses: 9:00-20:00, with a bus every 10 minutes.
There are two scenic area shuttle bus routes: Route 1: Jiadengyu Transfer Center – Tuojing Bay – Huaqiu Valley – Kanas River Bridge – Wolong Bay – Moon Bay – Kanas Village Transfer Center (Shenxian Bay). Route 2: Kanas Village Transfer Center (Shenxian Bay) – Yaze Lake – Folk Culture Park – Platform – T-junction – Township Government – Lake Circuit – Border Police Station – Fish Viewing Pavilion Ticket Office – Regional Training Center (formerly Science Popularization Park) – New Village – Fish Viewing Pavilion. Shuttle buses for the Fish Viewing Pavilion scenic spot: Fish Viewing Pavilion Ticket Office – Fish Viewing Pavilion.
Preparations Before Departure:
1. Documents: Always carry your ID card. Additionally, student IDs, press cards, military IDs, senior citizen cards, photographer IDs, and other documents can provide discounts or even free admission in Kanas.
2. Clothing: Kanas is located in a high-latitude inland area with large diurnal temperature variations. Therefore, you should pack extra clothes. Even if you visit during summer, you should prepare some clothing with good insulation.
4. Daily Living Essentials: If convenient, it is best to bring your own. It is recommended to bring your own towel, foldable travel toothbrush, toothpaste, slippers. Additionally, the climate in the entire Xinjiang region is dry, and the ultraviolet rays are much stronger than in mainland cities. Sun protection and moisturizing are very important, so it is recommended to bring sunscreen skincare products.
5. Medications: You can prepare some cold medicine, Huoxiang Zhengqi Liquid, band-aids, mosquito repellent, sunscreen, etc. In addition to preventing mosquito bites, mentholated ointment and essential balm can also help refresh your mind.
6. Photography Equipment: For photography enthusiasts, this is crucial. Nowadays, DSLR and mirrorless cameras are very popular. Be sure to bring spare batteries, chargers, and plenty of memory cards. If your work requires it, bringing a laptop is recommended.
Food: The diet in Burqin is mainly based on Kazakh and Uyghur cuisine, consisting mainly of meat, pasta, and dairy products.
Additionally: There is a time difference of more than two hours between Xinjiang and eastern regions. It is still very bright at 8 pm, and it is quite normal to have dinner at 9 pm.
Shopping: When shopping in Kanas, you can buy honey and dairy products from the mountains. After descending the mountain, you can buy some dried fish made from local cold-water fish in Burqin City, such as pike, shelfish, beluga, and whitebait. In addition, the Kazakhs are ingenious, and many of their handicrafts are exquisitely crafted and reasonably priced, making them a great choice for both practical use and souvenirs.
Accommodation: In order to protect the natural environment of the Kanas Lake area, many hotels near the lake have been closed. However, there are still some mountain resorts within the scenic area, as well as local Tuwa people’s residences that offer accommodation. If you want to wake up early to see the morning mist scenery at Shenxian Bay, staying within the scenic area is a good choice. I stayed at the Kanas Visitor Reception Center, which integrates dining and accommodation. It is located beside Kanas Lake and the environment is quite nice.