2020 Essential Xinjiang Travel Guide: Kanas Travel Guide
Xinjiang Tourism Consultation: (Same) 0991-8585456
Kanas
The Kanas scenic area comprises three major scenic spots: Kanas, Hemu, and Baihaba, each requiring separate tickets, scenic area transportation fees, and ancient town maintenance fees. Jiadengyu is the ticketing center for these three scenic spots. In Kanas, the main attractions to visit are Kanas Lake, Hemu Village, and Baihaba Village. Kanas Lake is the core attraction, featuring the mysterious Kanas Lake Monster and scenic spots such as Shenxian Bay, Wolong Bay, and Moon Bay. Both Hemu and Baihaba are villages inhabited by locals, reminiscent of Swiss towns, and are considered fairyland on earth. Many people believe that these two villages are the essence of Kanas.
The key to appreciating the beauty of the Three Bends is the clouds and fog! The best time to photograph the Three Bends is in the morning, when the sun’s rays pierce through the clouds in the峡谷, creating the most dynamic cloud and fog scenes. Therefore, to truly capture the essence of the Three Bends, one sunny day is only enough to photograph one bend, because by the time you finish photographing one and move on to the next, the good weather will have passed. Due to the elevated position of the Three Bends, a telephoto lens is often used more frequently.
1. The viewing route for the Three Bays can be chosen as follows: head to Shenxian Bay in the morning to shoot the morning mist, then take a car to Moon Bay to take photos. At this time, the fog has not dispersed yet, and overlooking Moon Bay, the fog floats above the bay, giving a feeling of a fairyland. Finally, walk to Wolong Bay. 2. The 2-kilometer road from Moon Bay to Wolong Bay allows you to get close to Kanas Lake along the wooden boardwalk. The autumn scenery along the way is breathtakingly beautiful. 3. The Three Bays can be said to be the symbol of Kanas and the most beautiful and photogenic shooting spot in Kanas. If you want to capture the ideal water mist, it is recommended to stay in the scenic area if conditions permit.
Fish Viewing Pavilion, located on the top of Camel Peak on the west bank of Kanas Lake, is at an altitude of 2030m and has a height difference of 600m from the lake surface. The Fish Viewing Pavilion was built to observe the "lake monster" in the lake from a commanding height, commonly known as the big red fish. Although very few people have seen the big red fish, this is the best angle to overlook the panoramic view of Kanas Lake. First, you can have a bird’s-eye view of Kanas Lake, with three-quarters of the lake visible. Second, you can enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery with layered peaks, reflected green peaks, and clouds rising like waves; Third, looking north, you can clearly see the highest peak of the Altai Mountains, Friendship Peak (4374m), blocking the northward-winding Kanas Lake among the mountains. The snowy mountains with a silvery sheen, verdant forests, and emerald-green lakes are all within sight. Therefore, visiting the Fish Viewing Pavilion has become a must-do for tourists to Kanas.
Best Travel Time and Seasons
The best times are September and October. Autumn is Kanas’ signature season. In September, Kanas is full of vitality, with endless greenery that makes people reluctant to leave; after a short summer, Kanas welcomes its golden season, with forests painted in layers of colors.
Precautions
1. For a trip to Kanas, you only need a border defense certificate in Baihaba. Border defense certificates can be processed at your household registration location, Kashgar, or Burqin, or directly at the Kanas scenic area with your ID card. 2. Food prices within the scenic area are very expensive, and if you ride a horse through Hemu, it will be even more difficult to purchase food. Therefore, try to purchase sufficient supplies in Burqin. The ultraviolet rays in Xinjiang are intense, and the climate is dry, so be sure to prepare enough sunscreen and pay attention to moisturizing. 3. The diurnal temperature variation in Kanas is very large, with temperatures even dropping below zero in the morning, and reaching up to 27°C during the strongest midday sunshine. So when watching the dawn, be sure to stay warm; it’s better to bring a down jacket, hat, gloves, sweater, etc. During the day when playing in the scenic area, you can wear a thin long-sleeved shirt with a jacket; just take off the jacket when it’s hot. It is not recommended to wear short sleeves to avoid sunburn. 4. Hemu has many horse teams, and you can often encounter horses galloping, kicking up a lot of dust, so it is recommended to wear a mask. In addition, bring some insect repellent, stomach medicine, and other commonly used medications in case of need. 5. Xinjiang’s climate is dry, and the diet consists mainly of hot-natured mutton and chili peppers, which can easily cause nosebleeds. Skin and lip chapping are also quite severe, so be sure to bring various protective products.
2020 Essential Xinjiang Travel Guide: Kanas Travel Guide
Xinjiang Tourism Consultation: (Same) 0991-8585456