The January Kanas travel guide mainly covers transportation, travel routes, must-visit attractions, practical information, warmth measures, and other aspects.
Transportation tips:
You can fly to Kanas Airport first, where there are direct buses to the scenic area, providing convenience and speed.
If flying to Altay Airport, you can then take a bus or carpool to Kanas, enjoying picturesque scenery along the way.
Beitun City Station is relatively close to Kanas. There are tourist shuttles available after exiting the station, but the number of trains is limited. It is necessary to plan your itinerary in advance. Winter road conditions are complex, so please pay attention to safety.
Recommended travel routes:
Day 1: Kanas Lake – Fish Viewing Terrace – Kanas Three Bays (Shenxian Bay, Moon Bay, Wolong Bay) – Tuwa Village. Upon arrival in Kanas in the morning, head straight to Kanas Lake to experience the tranquility of the frozen lake surface; have lunch by the lake; in the afternoon, climb the Fish Viewing Terrace to overlook the entire Kanas Lake and the surrounding mountains; then take the shuttle bus to appreciate the scenery of Kanas Three Bays in sequence; in the evening, visit Tuwa Village to experience local folklore and stay in a characteristic wooden cabin.
Day 2: Hemu Village – Hadeng Platform – Hemu River – Return trip. In the morning, head to Hemu Village to enjoy the scene of chimney smoke rising and scattered snow-covered houses; climb Hadeng Platform to watch the sunrise; enjoy local hand-grabbed mutton for lunch; take a leisurely walk along the Hemu River in the afternoon before returning.
Must-visit attractions:
Kanas Lake: As the core of the Kanas scenic area, the frozen lake surface in winter resembles a huge mirror, surrounded by mysterious snow-capped mountains.
Fish Viewing Terrace: An excellent spot to overlook Kanas Lake. After reaching the top, you can enjoy the breathtaking scenery of snow-capped mountains, icy lakes, and forests.
Kanas Three Bays: Shenxian Bay, Moon Bay, and Wolong Bay, which have a unique charm in winter and are a paradise for photographers.
Tuwa Village: Inhabited by the ancient Tuwa people, the snow-covered wooden cabins in the village are full of life and offer a unique folk culture experience.
Hemu Village: Known as the ‘First Village in China’, it features wooden houses, snowy landscapes, chimney smoke, cows, and horses, creating the purest rural scenery.
Practical information and warmth measures:
The scenic area is usually open from 8:00-19:30, with a ticket price of 100 yuan per person for the entire area, valid for 3 days (including Kanas, Hemu, and Baihaba).
The average temperature in Kanas and Hemu in January is about -20°C to -6°C, so you must prepare adequate warm clothing. It is recommended to wear thickened down jackets, thermal underwear, fleece-lined pants, thick woolen pants or cotton pants, thickened long socks, and fleece-lined and thickened shoes, etc.
Winter is the off-season in Xinjiang, with discounts on tickets, accommodation, and flights, which can save a lot of money; at the same time, there are fewer tourists, providing excellent photo opportunities.
In addition, you can try popular activities such as splashing water to form ice, visiting the吉克普林 Ski Resort for skiing, enjoying bonfire evenings, and other folk performances, and indulge in various snow activities.
. Before traveling, be sure to make full preparations, including planning the itinerary, booking accommodation, consulting the weather forecast, etc., to ensure the smooth progress of the trip.