A trip to Kanas in Xinjiang in September
There’s a song that goes like this, ‘Our Xinjiang is a wonderful place, a wonderful place…’ Speaking of Xinjiang, one cannot help but mention a mysterious and special place, Kanas. Once, the lake monster became its synonym, but who knows if anyone has delved deeply into this magical place, this rare ‘pure land on earth’. Its stunning beauty is difficult to capture with any highly skilled photography, and even casually taken photos will elicit admiration from those who see them.
Kanas possesses the magnificent scenery of the northern regions and the delicate beauty of southern landscapes. In addition, there are attractions such as ‘Sea of Clouds and Buddha’s Light’, ‘Color-Changing Lake’, ‘Floating Wood Embankment’, and ‘Lake Monster’. How can it not be called a beautiful and fairy-like scenery in the Western Regions! To the north are the snow-capped Kuytun Mountains and the towering Friendship Peak. The lake is surrounded by towering mountains, and the forests resemble painted screens. Different plant communities are层次分明, displaying various colors. Especially in autumn, the trees compete for brilliance: gold, crimson, and dark green showcase their unique beauty. The leaves are lush, and moss and wild grasses grow everywhere on withered leaves and decaying wood. The meadows in the forest clearings are like green carpets, and the wildflowers are bright and colorful. When the wind is calm and the waves are flat, the lake water resembles a pool of jade, changing colors with the weather and transforming its appearance from morning to night. Whenever clouds swirl around, the snow-capped peaks and spring mountains appear and disappear, as if in another world. In summer, after a rainy morning, climbing up the Camel Peak on the southern section of the lake allows one to witness the miraculous sight of Buddha’s light.
Wolong Bay
It is like a dragon lying horizontally around the green mountains. The Wolong Bay in the morning fog is like a dream. Wolong Bay is composed of a series of winding river bends formed by the long-term lateral erosion and scouring of the Kanas River. The river flow slows down here, with gentle ripples floating on the water surface. Two peninsula-like platforms are developed on both sides of the Ω-shaped river bend, with a crescent-shaped platform above the bend. Two small beaches are developed within the river bend, resembling two huge footprints. Legend has it that even immortals could not resist the temptation of the beautiful scenery and left these footprints when descending to earth to admire the view. The downstream Wolong Bay platform is 800 meters long, 450 meters wide, and covers an area of 36,000 square meters. On both sides of the river bend, luxuriant forests thrive with towering ancient trees. The coniferous and broad-leaved primitive forests are densely distributed on the hillsides, and above the forests are layered peaks; the peninsula-like platforms on the east and west banks of the river bend are open and flat green lawns covered with wildflowers. Cattle and sheep graze on the flowers and grass, presenting a vibrant scene. Climbing up to the lateral moraine platform at an altitude of 1,500 meters beside the east road and overlooking the Ω-shaped river bend panorama is like seeing a dragon coiled and playing in the water, hence the name Wolong Bay.
Hundred Flowers Garden
The Hundred Flowers Garden is located on the west bank of Kanas Lake, 5 kilometers away from Kanas Village. It is a typical mid-mountain forest meadow. Every summer, it turns into a green world and a sea of flowers. The slopes are covered with various wildflowers such as yellow poppies, wild peonies, wild clover, money flowers, flying plums, purple hu (a type of herb), large-flowered gentian, and roses, displaying a variety of postures and colors. They attract bees and butterflies, competing for beauty. Hence, it is named the Hundred Flowers Garden.
White Lake
White Lake is another mysterious lake that is still ‘hidden in the boudoir and unknown to the world’. Locals call it ‘Akkule’, named after its white water. White Lake is located at the foot of Friendship Peak in the Altay Mountains in the northeastern part of Kanas Lake. You can take a boat to the head of Kanas Lake and then ride a horse for about 30 kilometers to reach it. White Lake is located at an altitude of 1,954 meters and has an area of about 10 square kilometers (the depth of the lake has not been determined, but experts have speculated based on the geological structure of the Kanas area that the depth of White Lake should exceed that of Kanas Lake and is likely to exceed 200 meters). The lake surface is as smooth as a mirror, surrounded by towering peaks, glaciers clad in silver snow, vibrant meadows, and floating clouds that change colors instantly. It preserves a complete Siberian taiga forest and grows Xinjiang five-needle pine, which is rare to see elsewhere. The entrance of White Lake is blocked by a huge rock, forming a spectacular scene of rushing water. The water of this lake is white all year round, which is rare. It is said to be caused by glacier movement grinding granite into white powder, which is then carried into the river and injected into the lake. White Lake is also a gathering place for cold-water fish to spawn. Every autumn, it becomes a heaven for various cold-water fish to breed.
Moon Bay
Moon Bay resembles a crescent moon, quietly reflecting the blue sky. Located about 1 kilometer upstream from Wolong Bay, Moon Bay is an extension of the Wolong Bay river bend. The beautiful and serene Moon Bay changes with the changes in Kanas Lake water, truly a pearl embedded in the Kanas River. The Kanas riverbed forms several half-moon-shaped river bends composed of reverse ‘S’-shaped curves here, known as ‘Moon Bay’. On both sides of Moon Bay, peaks rise up in layers, with dense primitive forests and towering ancient trees. The peninsula-like platform under the forest by the river is covered with lush green lawn. If you climb up to the lateral moraine platform at an altitude of 1,500 meters beside the highway, you can overlook the beautiful scenery in the valley – the panoramic view of river bends such as Wolong Bay and Moon Bay.
Hemu Grassland
A sea of blooming flowers with a sweet fragrance fills the air. Bees are busy collecting nectar from flowers, while cows and sheep graze happily all over the mountains. It’s a charming scene of the vast grassland. Hemu Grassland is located in the faulted basin among mountains at the confluence of Kanas River and Hemu River in Burqin County, with an altitude of 1,124 to 2,300 meters. The surrounding mountains are broad and thick, with rounded tops. The rivers mostly cut through to form canyons, resulting in a complex terrain. The Hemu River runs through from northeast to southwest, dividing the grassland into two halves. The shady slopes of the mountains are covered with dense forests, verdant and lush, where red deer, marmots, and snowcocks inhabit. On the sunny slopes, the grass is green and flowers are blooming in abundance, with a sweet fragrance filling the air. Bees are busy collecting nectar from flowers, while cows and sheep graze happily all over the mountains. It’s a charming scene of the vast grassland. Hemu Grassland has favorable water and heat conditions, with an annual precipitation of 600mm. The vegetation is mainly grasses and weeds, including species such as fescue, roughstalk bluegrass, barnyardgrass, carex, and other grasses. The growing season is from May to September, with grass heights of 20 to 50 centimeters and a coverage rate of over 90%. It is the main summer and winter pasture for nearby areas.
Colorful Riverbank
The Colorful Riverbank is located about 24 kilometers north of Burqin County. The river here is gentle and open, with a suspension bridge spanning the water, creating a spectacular view. The east bank of the river is composed of colorful and uniquely scenic lava landforms, consisting of purple-red, earthy-red, light yellow, and light green mudstone, sandstone, and gravel. The shapes resemble ancient castles, monsters, bee clusters, and other forms. Under the reflection of the river and the setting sun, the colors are dazzling and very spectacular. Whenever it’s windy, the gullies and under the rocks will emit strange sounds of different lengths and pitches, making people feel mysterious.
Food
In Burqin, you can taste the famous "Five-Striped Fish" grilled fish from Kanas Lake, and also try fresh yogurt made by authentic Russian ladies. When you arrive in Kanas, naturally you must try the local authentic Xinjiang grilled mutton kebabs. After eating the kebabs, you must have a plate of pilaf, which is called "Polo" in Uyghur. The daily diet of local residents is mainly meat and dairy products, with很少eating vegetables. The only crop they grow is potatoes. Villagers love to eat a wild vegetable called "bek", which is actually a ginseng, also known as chicken leg ginseng. Fried dough cakes and milk dishes are essential for every meal.
Burqin Grilled Pike Perch
At the Burqin Riverbank Night Market, grilled pike perch is considered a signature dish at every stall. The Irtysh River is the only river in China that flows into the Arctic Ocean, and pike perch is a specialty of this river, with delicious meat. Most stalls at the night market use it for grilling. The grilled fish tastes tender and delicious in the mouth. Taking a sip of kvass after that, the taste is quite fantastic!
Hemu Mutton
The mutton in Hemu has no mixed flavors. Because there is no industrial pollution within hundreds of kilometers around, the sheep graze on grass, then go to the riverside to drink water and stroll on the grassland. It’s no wonder the meat is delicious.
Baked Naan Bread
As a daily food for Xinjiang people, baked naan bread can be seen everywhere. It is somewhat similar to the baked sesame cakes that northerners love to eat, but tastes better. There are different flavors such as white naan, milk naan, oil naan, and sesame naan. Actually, white naan is the basic type, and others are derived from it by adding different spices. If you plan to use it as dry food in Kanas, buying white naan is enough – it is inexpensive, delicious, and easy to store.
Kvass
The specially made beer in Kanas can be considered a local specialty. It has a certain alcohol content but is not like regular beer. It is made from corn and barley produced here, refined with hops and nectar, and has a transparent amber-like color. Pouring a cup of fragrant kvass, it overflows with many bubbles. The taste is sour and sweet, and a refreshing chill fills the body, making it feel super great.
Recommendation: At the Burqin Night Market, there is a barbecue stall run by a Russian named Jina. The kvass she brews herself is quite famous locally and even has its own brand – "Russian Granny".
Grilled Mutton Kebabs
Kanas is the hometown of mutton. The mutton here is tender and delicious, and has no unpleasant odor, so the grilled mutton kebabs are also very tasty, priced at around 2 yuan per kebab.
Xinjiang Tourism Consultation: (Same) 0991-8585456