Winter Tourism Expenses in Kanas, Xinjiang

　　Kanas Winter Tourism Expenses

　　Winter Kanas Tourism Inquiry Hotline: 181-39622229 0991-8585456

　　Compared to the high prices of airplane tickets, train tickets, scenic spot tickets, scenic area shuttle tickets, and high accommodation fees during summer and autumn, Xinjiang’s winter is much kinder to your wallet…

　　Transportation: During winter in Xinjiang, airfare and train ticket costs are very cheap. Direct one-way flights from popular cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen range from 300 to 1000 yuan; train ticket prices for a one-way trip also range from 500 to 800 yuan, and airfares are cheaper than long-distance train tickets;

　　Scenic area tickets: Everyone knows that the biggest expense when traveling to Xinjiang is the scenic area tickets and shuttle bus fees. Compared to other tourist cities, it is an embarrassingly high number. However, due to limitations in winter conditions in Xinjiang, scenic area ticket prices are reduced, and shuttle buses can be replaced by the cars we take, especially in Northern Xinjiang. In summer and autumn, the combined ticket price for the three scenic areas of Kanas, Hemo, and Baihaba is 340 yuan per person, while in winter, a one-ticket pass is implemented for the three scenic areas of Kanas, Hemo, and Baihaba, with a ticket price of 90 yuan per person;

　　Lodging expenses: In popular places such as Kanas, Hemo, Baihaba, and Burqin in summer and autumn, the average lodging cost per person per night is around 300 yuan, while in winter, the average lodging cost is only around 130 yuan per person.

　　Play with ease

　　Every summer and autumn, there is a steady stream of people traveling to Xinjiang. Whenever you travel during this time, it is no surprise to see long queues at scenic area tickets and shuttle bus stops. However, Kanas is not very well-known in winter, so fewer people go there. At this time, you can enjoy the beauty of nature to your heart’s content without fear of being disturbed.

　　What to do when visiting Kanas in winter?

　　Eight ways to play in Xinjiang in winter:

　　Take a hot spring bath

　　Taking a hot spring bath in winter is very beneficial to physical and mental health, as the alternation of cold and heat can dilate and constrict skin blood vessels, promoting blood circulation and metabolism in the body. Wucaiwan Ancient Sea Hot Spring Resort is a great place to take a hot spring bath. In winter, it has a special charm, with light snow floating and the ground covered in silver light, and people bustling in the hot spring pools, creating a misty and beautiful scene. After bathing in the hot spring, skating in swimwear is also a beautiful sight. The setting sun and its afterglow will let you relax and let your thoughts wander to distant ancient times. At night, you can also gaze up at the starry sky. Wucaiwan Ancient Sea Hot Spring Resort is also the golden route to Kanas Scenic Area and an important tourist hub and transit point. While resting, taking a hot spring bath and enjoying the warmth of winter is an excellent experience in winter.

　　Wucaiwan Ancient Sea Hot Spring

　　Ride a horse-drawn sleigh

　　Traveling to Kanas in winter, taking a horse-drawn sleigh is the most interesting mode of transportation. Riding on snow over a meter deep, you can fully experience the artistic conception of "a thousand mountains with no birds flying, ten thousand paths with no human traces" in the silent valley.

　　Before Kanas opened its winter tourism, the long winter in the Kanas area was blocked by heavy snow, and the connection with the outside world could only be made by horse-drawn sleighs. Taking a sleigh to witness this unique style was also the purpose for tourists to visit in winter. In recent years, Kanas has opened winter tourism activities and better transportation options have become available. 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 Hemo Village. Sitting on the horse-drawn sleigh and shuttling 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 towards you. All the way, with the sound of horses’ hooves and neighs, and the magnificent scenery and joy;

　　Note: When riding a horse-drawn sled, wear more clothes to keep warm, and be careful when taking photos. It is best not to take photos while going downhill.

　　Pass through the snow walls

　　Kanas is the scenic area with the highest latitude in Xinjiang, with a winter that lasts for more than half a year. In winter, the snow is heavy and the winds are strong. When snow accumulates on flat ground to its thickest, it can reach about two meters. In recent years, the Kanas scenic area has opened winter tourism activities and specifically purchased snowplows to ensure the normal progress of winter travel within the scenic area. Nowadays, snowplows have become a standard configuration for the Kanas scenic area during winter, providing logistical support for the winter operation of the scenic area. As the snow accumulates thicker, thick "snow walls" are formed on both sides of the road, reaching one to two meters high. The "snow walls" not only prevent vehicles and other transportation from sliding off the road but will also gradually form a unique landscape.

　　Experience the Tuwa log cabins

　　The Altay region is dominated by the Tuwa people, and log cabins have become a symbol of the Tuwa people, appearing particularly primitive and rustic, with traditional characteristics of nomadic peoples. The Tuwa people, in an environment far from the civilized world, make full use of local resources to build wooden cabins that are warm in winter and cool in summer, with a European style. The rooftops are generally made of wooden planks nailed into a gable-shaped canopy, and the bodies of the houses are stacked with single-layer logs with diameters of 30 to 40 centimeters, which are both warm and moisture-proof. People who have visited the living places of the Tuwa people will first see the European-style log cabins. These pointed-roof, square-based wooden houses, although simple in structure, are highly practical. Living in the log cabins of the Tuwa people, drinking milk tea or fermented mare’s milk made by herdsmen, and tasting Xinjiang’s special cuisines have become indispensable unique experiences for tourists.

　　Watch the sunrise, morning mist, and panoramic view from the Hemu viewing platform

　　In the early morning, climb up to the viewing platform on the hill next to Hemu Village to capture the sunrise and morning mist over the village. Standing at the top of the hill, looking down at the wooden cabins as the sunlight gradually advances, overlook this primitive village that resembles a fairyland. Kitchen smoke rises, forming a dreamlike belt of mist, as if the scene can only be described in a fairy tale world. You can also see a panoramic view of Hemu Village, and most panoramic images of Hemu are taken here. According to legend, Genghis Khan once reviewed his hundred thousand troops here. Just imagine how magnificent and awe-inspiring the scene must have been at that time!

　　Be a guest in the home of the Tuwa people

　　As the sun sets, kitchen smoke rises once again. As a guest in the home of the Tuwa people in the snowy region, enter the warm Tuwa log cabin. The flames in the fireplace dance for you, and fragrant milk tea boils for you. Sit down, close your eyes, and listen to a song played on the chur, which is the echo of the mountains and the sound of nature; sit down, take a few gulps of milk tea, and let the warm currents drive away the winter chill; sit down, grab handfuls of mutton, listen to the host recount the past, and listen to companions talk about the future;

　　Kanas Lake snow mushrooms

　　Every winter, Kanas Lake presents a breathtaking spectacle of snowy fields and snow mushrooms, which is so beautiful that it makes one marvel at the ingenuity of nature. On the white snowfield, clusters of snow mushrooms appear so fantastic under the setting sun. The snow in the water looks even whiter and smoother, like a fairy tale ice and snow world! You can step on the snow mushrooms like a child, leaving behind your cute footprints…

　　Viewing Kanas rime

　　After passing Tuojing Bay, follow the Kanas River upstream. The crystal-clear rime corridor will lead you into a fantastical world. Here, there are girls singing and dancing lightly, full of youth and vitality; over there, there are scholars reciting poems, gentle and refined; here, there are children playing games, lively and cute; over there, there are old men with silver hair fluttering, kind and broad-minded. There are "white orchids", "white plum blossoms", "silver chrysanthemums", and "reed flowers"; there are also "snow chickens", "snow rabbits", "snow deer", and "snow butterflies". Moreover, the rime here lasts for a long time, so you don’t have to worry about it disappearing quickly.

　　–Hemu Village is located in Burqin County, Altay Prefecture, northern Xinjiang, about 30 kilometers east of Kanas Lake. It is a small village inhabited by Kazakhs and Tuvas. –The houses here are all built of logs, giving it an original flavor. –What is most fascinating about Hemu Village is its enchanting autumn scenery with mountains covered in red leaves. Smoke rises from chimneys amidst the autumn scenery, forming a dreamlike smoke belt, like a fairyland. –Photography enthusiasts will climb up the mountain next to Hemu Village in the morning to the observation deck to capture the morning mist over the village. Most of the panoramic photos of Hemu are taken here.

　　How many days should you stay and how should you play?

　　Winter in Xinjiang is very cold, with an average winter temperature of around -13°C. The average temperature in Kanas is around -18°C, and it can get as cold as -30°C. Therefore, it is not recommended to stay for too long. If you want to enjoy yourself thoroughly without any regrets, 7 days is the best choice. You can take a loop route without repeating the same path and visit all the classic attractions.

　　Tian Chi and Wucaiwan Ancient Sea Hot Springs in one day; Kanas in one day, Hemu in one day, Hemu Beautiful Peak in one day, Urho Magic City in one day, and Kuitun Grand Canyon in one day. This forms a perfect loop route.

　　What basic knowledge do you need to know about winter tourism in Kanas, Xinjiang?

　　What equipment should you bring for winter travel in Xinjiang?

　　Equipment: a 20L small backpack for personal use, a pair of trekking poles, a thermal water bottle, a waterproof bag (the trekking poles will be useful when going to the observation deck in Hemu during winter due to heavy snowfall).