National Day Xinjiang Tourism Kanas Photography Autumn Photography Golden Autumn October
(Same) 0991-8585456
Is there anyone like me who, when traveling to Kanas, becomes intensely interested in a place just by hearing its name before even visiting? It feels like a fateful encounter, a journey that must happen once in a lifetime. Kanas is such a place for me. Therefore, before going there, I did my best to learn as much as I could about Kanas. After all, being well-prepared is a must for a competent tourist. Now I will share what I know with everyone, hoping it will be helpful.
My Understanding of Kanas:
Kanas is located in the Altay region in the north of Xinjiang. It is a comprehensive scenic area integrating glaciers, lakes, forests, grasslands, pastures, rivers, ethnic customs, and rare animals and plants. It is known as the "Eastern Switzerland, Photographer’s Paradise". Kanas is a Mongolian word meaning "beautiful and fertile, mysterious and unpredictable". Here, spectacular glaciers contrast with tranquil lakes, and vast grasslands encompass deep primitive forests. The mysterious lake monster, the quaint Tuwa people, the changing lake water, and the dazzling scenery all captivate people. In Kanas, you can mainly visit three places: Kanas Lake, Hemu Village, and Baihaba Village. Kanas Lake is the core attraction, featuring the mysterious Kanas Lake Monster and Fairy Bay, Wolong Bay, and Moon Bay. Both Hemu and Baihaba are villages inhabited by locals, reminiscent of Swiss towns, representing a fairyland on earth. Many people believe that these two villages are the essence of Kanas. The Kanas Scenic Area is not only rich in natural resources and biological species but also boasts unique tourism and human resources. Kanas has the magnificent scenery of the northern regions and the delicate beauty of southern waters. In addition, there are magnificent and spectacular sights such as "Sea of Clouds and Buddha’s Light", "Color-Changing Lake", "Floating Wood Causeway", and "Lake Monster", making it a beautiful and fairy-like scenery in the western regions. To the north of the lake are the snow-capped Kuitun Mountains and the towering Friendship Peak. The lake is surrounded by rugged mountains, with forests resembling painted screens. Different plant communities are well-layered and colorful. In autumn, the trees compete in brilliance, displaying golden yellow, deep red, and dark green hues. The shrubs in the forest are lush, with moss and wild grass growing on withered leaves and deadwood. The meadows in the forest clearings are like mushrooms, with bright mountain flowers. When the wind is calm and the waves are flat, the lake water resembles a pool of jade, changing colors with the weather and shifting its charm from morning to night. Whenever clouds swirl around, the snow-capped peaks and spring mountains appear and disappear, as if in another world. In the early morning after rain in July and August, climbing Camel Peak on the southern section of the lake allows you to witness the miracle of Buddha’s Light.
Best Viewing Time:
The golden autumn of September and October is Kanas’s hallmark. In June, Kanas is full of spring vitality, with endless green that makes people hesitate to leave. After a short summer, the golden September of Kanas arrives, with forests painted in layers of colors. In winter, the lake surface is frozen, but the scenery is equally fascinating.
Kanas also has special winter tourism projects (from October 10th to May 10th of the next year), during which some entrance fees are waived. There is also a "horse-drawn sleigh" project, and a winter photography tourism festival is held every winter.
Kanas Lake
Kanas Lake is a mountain lake hidden in the dense forests of the Altai Mountains. Together with the eastern Hemu Village and the western Baihaba Village, it constitutes the main part of the entire Kanas scenic area. Compared to the human landscapes of the other two villages, Kanas Lake captivates people with its mysterious lake monster, color-changing water, and dazzling natural scenery.
Baihaba
Baihaba Village is a small Tuwa village. Due to its border location, the village has become the "First Village in the Northwest", the post by the village has become the "First Post in the Northwest", and even the shallow Baihaba River has become the "First River in the Northwest". It is located on the border between China and Kazakhstan, only 1.5 kilometers away from East Sylek in Kazakhstan, connected by a national defense highway.
Opening Hours: All Day
Hemu Grassland
There is a grassland in the intermountain graben basin where the Kanas River and Hemu River converge, and it is called Hemu Grassland. The Hemu River divides the grassland into two halves. The shady slope of the mountain is covered with dense forests, verdant and lush. Red deer, marmots, and snowcocks inhabit the area, while the sunny slope is covered with green grass and colorful flowers, with a pleasant aroma. Bees are collecting nectar from flowers, and cattle and sheep are grazing all over the mountain, presenting a charming and vast grassland scenery.
Three Bays of Kanas – Fairy Bay
Opening Hours: All Day
Three Bays of Kanas – Moon Bay
Moon Bay is sandwiched between the east and west mountains, with the river winding along the mountain. It resembles a crescent moon. The peaks on both sides of Moon Bay are steep and covered with primitive forests and towering ancient trees. The peninsula-like platform by the river below the forest is covered with lush green grass. Due to the difference in lakebed height and lighting, the water of Moon Bay presents gorgeous and ever-changing colors.
Three Bays of Kanas – Wolong Bay
1km south of Moon Bay is Wolong Bay, named after an island in the water that resembles a pterosaur. Locals also call it Kazan Lake, or the Pot-Bottom Lake, because the shape of the lake resembles the bottom of a pot. The lake is surrounded by dense forests, colorful flowers, and lush green grass. The small island in the lake has a beautiful scenery. There is a wooden bridge at the outlet of the lake. Standing on the bridge, you can see the mirror-like Wolong Bay to the north and the roaring Kanas River to the south.
Opening Hours: All Day
When you come here, I believe both of us will marvel at the magnificent work of nature and feel fortunate to witness such a rare beauty in our lifetime. Kanas is such a memorable place that no one will regret coming. I long to meet it as soon as possible, as if I have been waiting for dozens of years. Because I know Kanas is waiting for me.
Xinjiang Tourism Consultation: (Same) 0991-8585456