Kanas Scenic Area is located in the middle section of the Altai Mountains in northern Xinjiang, within Burqin County, Altay Prefecture. It is a national 5A-level scenic area with a planned area of 10,030 square kilometers. The scenic area integrates various natural landscapes such as glaciers, snowfields, high mountains, rivers, lakes, forests, and grasslands. It has a unique Siberian taiga ecosystem and is the only protected distribution area of Siberian flora and fauna in China. The forest coverage rate here is over 95%. More than 540 species of higher plants and over 100 species of animals live in harmony, making it a huge ecological barrier and an important reservoir of animal and plant resources. There are a total of 55 scenic spots of different sizes in the area, belonging to 33 basic types, including eight natural landscape areas such as Kanas National Nature Reserve and Kanas National Geopark, and three cultural landscape areas. In addition, it is also the only settlement area of the Tuwa people of the Mongolian ethnic group in China, with rich folk customs.
Historical Culture
The Kanas area has a long history. About 200,000 years ago, Kanas Lake was finally formed through glacial erosion and seismic dam blocking. At that time, Kanas Lake was not as large as it is today. After tens of thousands of years, as the temperature gradually warmed up, the glaciers retreated, and the forest grew slowly. Kanas Lake entered a relatively stable period. The Tuwa people who have lived by Kanas Lake for generations. Their ancestors first rowed a dugout canoe to the center of Kanas Lake and saw the tree trunks that had been dead for tens of thousands of years without decaying or falling down, which inspired them to build wooden houses. Inspired by the underwater forest, the Tuwa people used larch trees that had been soaked in the water of the Kanas River for more than a year to build wooden houses. Such wooden houses can be used for at least one or two hundred years.
Main Scenic Spots
Kanas Lake
Kanas Lake is an alpine lake and an inland freshwater lake located in the deep mountains and dense forests of the Altai Mountains. The lake surface is 1,374 meters above sea level, covering an area of 45.73 square kilometers. The highest elevation at the deepest part of the lake is 1,181.5 meters, and the lake depth is 188.5 meters, with a water storage capacity of 5.38 billion cubic meters. It is the deepest glacial moraine dammed lake in China. The lake water comes from the glacial meltwater of mountains such as Kuitun and Friendship Peak and local precipitation. Due to the rich minerals in the lake water, the lake water will present fantastic colors such as light blue, medium blue, blue-green, and emerald green depending on the season, climate, and viewing angle. It is also known as the "Color-changing Lake."
Moon Bay
Moon Bay is one of the most famous scenic spots of Kanas Lake. When viewed from a high place, the river channel is winding and meandering, shaped like a crescent moon, inlaid in the green valley. On both sides of Moon Bay are towering mountains and dense forests. The river water sparkles under the sunlight, and the scenery is breathtaking. There are two small sandy beaches that look like footprints in the bay, which are called "Fairy Footprints" by the locals, adding a bit of mystery.
Wolong Bay
Wolong Bay has a broad and calm lake surface like a mirror. There is a small island in the lake that looks like a dinosaur. When viewed from the air, it is like a giant dragon lying quietly in the water, vivid and lifelike, and Wolong Bay got its name from this. The surrounding forests are dense, and the distant snow-capped mountains, blue sky, and white clouds are reflected in the lake, forming a picturesque and poetic beauty.
Fish Watching Platform
The Fish Watching Platform is located on the top of Camel Peak on the west bank of Kanas Lake, with an altitude of 2,030 meters, and the vertical drop from the lake surface is more than 600 meters. Here, you can have a panoramic view of the beauty of Kanas Lake, and it is the best place to enjoy the panoramic view of Kanas Lake and search for the "Lake Monster." Standing on the Fish Watching Platform and looking into the distance, the blue sky, white clouds, snow-capped mountains, forests, and lakes complement each other, presenting a magnificent scenery.
Delicacies
Handheld Mutton
It is a traditional Kazakh cuisine. Cut the slaughtered mutton into large pieces and cook it thoroughly in clear water in a pot. When eating, add some onions. It tastes fragrant and delicious, with fat and tender meat, pure and soft.
Naren
It is a characteristic Kazakh cuisine, consisting of mutton (beef), onions, and noodles. The wide noodles are chewy, fully absorb the soup, have a rich taste, are easy to digest, and are suitable for both the old and the young.
Kordak (Hordak)
It is a characteristic ethnic cuisine, composed of large pieces of carrots, potatoes, and mutton. The potatoes and carrots are soft and waxy, and it goes very well with rice.
Smoked Horse Sausage
It is a top-quality dish that the Kazakh people particularly like to serve guests. Every November and December, after slaughtering a fat and strong horse, turn over and wash the horse's large intestine, divide it into sections slightly longer than a horse rib, insert the horse rib with some salt sprinkled on it into the seal, and dry it with pine wood smoke. The smoked horse sausage is rich in fat but not greasy, with a fresh and fragrant taste.
Cheese Curd
It is a hard lump formed by fermenting and processing yogurt. It is nutritious and easy to absorb, and it is one of the best foods for calcium supplementation, with a sweet and sour taste.
Tickets
One-day Entry (Admission Ticket + Round-trip Shuttle Bus Ticket):
- Adults: 230 yuan
- Senior Citizens (aged 60-64): 150 yuan
- Students (aged 7-18): 150 yuan
- Children (below 1.3 meters): 35 yuan
- Senior Citizens (aged 65 and above): 35 yuan
Two-day Entry (Admission Ticket + Two Round-trip Shuttle Bus Tickets):
- Adults: 270 yuan
- Senior Citizens (aged 60-64): 190 yuan
- Students (aged 7-18): 190 yuan
- Children (below 1.3 meters): 55 yuan
- Senior Citizens (aged 65 and above): 55 yuan
Other projects in the scenic area require additional fees.
The one-day entry is suitable for tourists who enter the scenic area on the same day and leave on the same day, or those who enter the scenic area on the same day, stay overnight in the scenic area, and leave the next day.
The two-day entry is suitable for tourists who stay outside the scenic area. These tourists usually enter the scenic area to visit on the first day, leave the scenic area to stay overnight, and enter the scenic area again to continue visiting on the second day.
You can search for the official WeChat public account of the scenic area, "喀纳斯景区" to get the latest updates or purchase tickets online.
Opening Hours
During the peak season, the opening hours every day are from 08:00 to 20:00.
The opening hours during the off-season may be adjusted. Please pay attention to the official announcements of the scenic area for details.
Tour Routes
One-day Tour: Jiadenyu Ticket Station — Kanas Transfer Center — Kanas Lake — Moon Bay — Wolong Bay — Shenxian Bay — Fish Watching Platform (You can choose whether to go or not according to your time and physical strength).
Two-day Tour: On the first day, Jiadenyu Ticket Station — Kanas Transfer Center — Kanas Lake — Shuanghu Cruise (Optional) — Kanas New Village; on the second day, Kanas Village — Moon Bay — Wolong Bay — Shenxian Bay — Fish Watching Platform — Hemu Village (Optional), to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Hemu Village and the Tuwa village.
Three-day Tour: On the first day, Jiadenyu Ticket Station — Kanas Transfer Center — Kanas Lake — Shuanghu Cruise (Optional) — Kanas New Village; on the second day, Kanas Village — Moon Bay — Wolong Bay — Shenxian Bay — Fish Watching Platform — Baihaba Village, to experience the primitive customs of Baihaba; on the third day, Hemu Village, take a stroll in Hemu Village, enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Hemu River and the birch forest, and you can also choose to ride a horse to explore the Meili Peak.
Transportation
- By Air: You can choose Kanas Airport. After landing, take the airport bus to the Kanas Scenic Area Ticket Station (Jiadenyu); you can also choose Altay Airport and take a chartered car or share a car to the Kanas Scenic Area Ticket Station (Jiadenyu).
- By Train: It is recommended to choose Beitun City or Altay City as the destination. Take a sleeper and arrive at the station early the next morning, and then take a route bus to the Kanas Scenic Area Ticket Station — Jiadenyu.
- By Self-driving: Route 1, S21 A-Wu Expressway (West Ring Expressway K342 + 600 — Wujiaqu Interchange K331 + 540 — 103 Regiment Interchange K290 + 772 — Huanghuagou Interchange K65 + 883.7 — Jilihu Interchange K15 + 383.6 — Fuhainan Hub Interchange K0 + 00); Route 2, Urumqi — Wukui Expressway Entrance — Shihezi — Wusu — (via National Highway 217) — Karamay — Burqin — Provincial Highway S232 — Kanas Scenic Area; Route 3, Urumqi — (via National Highway 216) — Burqin — Provincial Highway S232 — Kanas Scenic Area. After arriving by self-driving, you need to take a shuttle bus to enter the Kanas Scenic Area.
Must-visit Scenic Spots
- Kanas Lake: The deepest glacial moraine dammed lake in China, with the lake water changing colors in various ways. It is surrounded by dense forests and towering snow-capped peaks, presenting a picturesque scenery.
- Moon Bay: A famous scenic spot of Kanas Lake. The river channel is shaped like a crescent moon, and there are "Fairy Footprints" in the bay, with charming scenery.
- Fish Watching Platform: With an altitude of 2,030 meters and a vertical drop of more than 600 meters from the lake surface, it is the best place to enjoy the panoramic view of Kanas Lake and search for the "Lake Monster."
- Hemu Village: Known as the "Reserved Land of the Gods," it is an original wooden house village. The Hemu River runs through it, and it is surrounded by dense birch forests. The Haden Viewing Platform can overlook the entire Hemu Village.
Tour Tips
- It is recommended to spend 2-3 days visiting, so that you can fully appreciate the beauty of the scenic area and avoid a too tight schedule.
- Autumn (from mid-September to early October) is the most beautiful season in Kanas. The leaves turn golden, and the forests are dyed in layers. However, there are many tourists during this period, so you need to book accommodation and tickets in advance.
- The temperature difference between day and night in the scenic area is relatively large. Even in summer, you need to prepare warm clothes, such as a hard shell jacket, fleece jacket, thermal underwear, etc.
- When visiting, you can choose a combination of hiking and taking the shuttle bus, which can not only enjoy the scenery along the way but also save physical strength.
Notes
- There are national nature reserves and national forest parks in the Kanas Scenic Area. It is strictly prohibited to set off fireworks and use open fires outdoors.
- Pay attention to the warnings in dangerous areas. Stay away from mountains with thick snow and large slopes, and do not approach cliffside and waterside areas to avoid accidents such as avalanches, falls, slips, and drownings.
- When driving into the scenic area in winter, you need to drive a four-wheel drive off-road vehicle equipped with snow tires. Cars and commercial vehicles should be equipped with snow tires and additional anti-skid chains. Vehicles over 7 meters (excluding 7 meters) are not allowed to pass. It is recommended to wear sunglasses when driving to avoid snow blindness.
- If you want to go to Baihaba Village, you need to apply for a border pass. You can apply at the Haba River Border Defense Brigade (Back Door of Dongchuan Market, Haba River County) and the Kanas Border Police Station (next to the Scenic Area Transfer Center).
- Respect the local customs and religious beliefs, especially in areas such as the Tuwa villages.