Kelan River Riverside Scenic Area is located in Altay City, Altay Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction. The scenic area starts from Hualin Bridge in the north, ends at Red Stone Scenic Area in the south, borders the Regional Museum in the west, and faces Jiangjunshan Forest Park in the east, covering an area of 720 hectares with a total length of 11.605 kilometers. Integrating multiple functions such as leisure and entertainment, sports vacation, and flood control, it is one of the scenic areas with the most solar radiation and the best air quality in China. The number of days with air quality at Grade I reaches 100%, and the average negative oxygen ion concentration in the scenic area is 10,296 per cubic centimeter. With diverse forest vegetation types and wide biodiversity, it is a cool summer resort for summer retreat, and in winter, it is windless, with a long snow season, heavy snowfall, and high-quality snow, making it an ideal place for snow viewing, playing, and skiing. The scenic area integrates "water, shore, road, and scenery", with 27 attractions embellishing the agile Kelan River, and 9 bridges carrying the memories of Altay people for generations. Original ecological landscapes such as green shade trails and grass squares are perfectly integrated with modern buildings like bars and theme hotels.
Historical Culture
The Kelan River is a continuation of Altay's life and a microcosm of its culture, witnessing the urban culture, history, and economic development of Altay City. Its basin has a long history, and the surrounding areas were once activity regions of multiple ancient nomadic peoples, who left rich cultural heritage here. For example, the grassland stone figure culture of Altay Prefecture reflects the religious beliefs and funeral customs of ancient nomadic peoples. Although most of these stone figures are not within the scenic area, as an important part of Altay's historical culture, they add profound cultural heritage to the Kelan River Riverside Scenic Area. In addition, the Kelan River itself plays an important role in local legends and stories, being regarded as a precious gift from nature to the Altay people, carrying their yearning and blessings for a better life.
Main Attractions
Kelan River Scenery Belt
This is the core part of the scenic area, with a total length of about 10 kilometers. Along the winding river, it is like a beautiful landscape painting. The two banks are shaded by green trees, lush with flowers and plants, and there are wetland landscapes. The scenic area is equipped with facilities such as viewing platforms and waterfront platforms, convenient for tourists to enjoy the coastal scenery and take photos.
Altay Folk Custom Garden
Located within the scenic area, it is a comprehensive park integrating folk custom display, experience, and entertainment. The park has facilities such as folk custom streets, ethnic customs performance halls, and folk culture experience areas. Tourists can enjoy the characteristic songs and dances, handicrafts, and taste special food of various ethnic groups in Altay Prefecture here, feeling the strong ethnic customs.
Jiangjunshan Forest Park
Adjacent to the riverside scenic area, it is a forest park with beautiful natural scenery. The park is rich in vegetation, with various trees and wild animals. Climbing Jiangjunshan Mountain, you can overlook the entire Kelan River Riverside Scenic Area and the urban landscape of Altay City, making it a good place for sightseeing and outdoor activities.
Red Stone Scenic Area
Located at the southern end of the scenic area, it is famous for its unique red stone landscape. These red stones show bright colors under the sunlight, contrasting with the surrounding green vegetation and clear river water, forming a unique picture. There are also some hiking routes in the scenic area, allowing tourists to enjoy more natural beauty along the routes.
Food
Hand-Grabbed Mutton
A traditional food in Xinjiang, using fresh local mutton with tender meat, paired with special dipping sauce, it is very delicious.
Baked Naan
A special Xinjiang pasta made from flour, yeast, and other ingredients, round in shape with many patterns on the surface. The baked naan is crispy, with a rich wheat aroma, and can be preserved for a long time. It is one of the favorite staple foods of local residents and tourists.
Mutton Soup
Boiled with mutton and various seasonings, the soup is rich and delicious. In cold weather, drinking a bowl of hot mutton soup can both warm the body and satisfy hunger.
Burqin Grilled Pikes
Using unique pikes from Burqin, this fish has tender meat and no intermuscular spines. The grilled pike has a golden and crispy skin, tender and juicy flesh, and with special sauce, it has a unique flavor.
Admission
The Kelan River Riverside Scenic Area is free to visit.
Opening Hours
The scenic area is open 24 hours a day.
Tour Routes
Tourists can start from Hualin Bridge, walk along the Kelan River Scenery Belt to enjoy along the way scenery, pass through various viewing platforms and waterfront platforms to feel the charm of nature; then go to Altay Folk Custom Garden to experience local folk culture; then go to Jiangjunshan Forest Park for outdoor activities such as mountain climbing and overlook the scenic area and urban scenery; finally, arrive at Red Stone Scenic Area to enjoy the unique red stone landscape and natural scenery. If time permits, you can also rest in the restaurants and bars within the scenic area to enjoy leisure time.
Transportation
- By Air: The scenic area is only 9 kilometers away from Xuedu Airport. Tourists can take a taxi or airport bus to the scenic area after arriving at Xuedu Airport.
- By Train: The center is 15 kilometers away from Altay Railway Station. Tourists can take a train to Altay Railway Station and then transfer to a bus or taxi to the scenic area.
- City Bus: There are city bus routes passing near the scenic area in Altay City. Tourists can check the relevant bus routes and walk to the scenic area after getting off at the nearest bus stop.
- By Car: Tourists driving to the scenic area can accurately reach the scenic area through navigation software, and there is a parking lot in the scenic area for tourists to use.
Must-See Attractions
- Kelan River Scenery Belt: The core landscape of the scenic area, with its beautiful river scenery, rich vegetation, and complete viewing facilities, allows tourists to fully get close to nature and feel the charm of the Kelan River.
- Altay Folk Custom Garden: An important window to understand the local culture, where you can deeply experience the folk customs of various ethnic groups in Altay Prefecture, enjoy characteristic songs and dances, handicrafts, and taste delicious food.
- Jiangjunshan Forest Park: With good ecological environment and rich vegetation, it provides a unique viewing perspective from the mountain top, overlooking the entire scenic area and the city, while also being suitable for outdoor activities.
Tour Tips
- When visiting in summer, remember to bring sunscreen and light clothing. As the sun is strong during the day, but it may be cooler in the morning and evening, it is best to prepare an extra jacket.
- When going to the scenic area in winter, prepare warm clothing such as down jackets, thick sweaters, hats, gloves, and snow boots to withstand the cold weather.
- If you want to experience outdoor activities in the scenic area, such as mountain climbing or hiking, it is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes or hiking boots.
- When visiting the scenic area, respect local customs and cultural heritage, and do not arbitrarily damage the environment and facilities of the scenic area.
- Reasonably arrange the tour route according to your interests and time, leaving enough time to appreciate the beauty of each attraction to avoid a too tight schedule.
Notes
- Some areas in the scenic area have complex terrain, especially near the river and mountainous areas. Tourists should pay attention to safety while visiting and do not leave the designated roads and areas at will.
- In winter, the roads in the scenic area may be covered with snow and ice. Be careful of slipping when walking, and drivers should pay attention to controlling the speed to ensure driving safety.
- Take care of the environment of the scenic area, do not litter, and keep the scenic area clean and tidy.
- In places like the Folk Custom Garden, respect the religious beliefs and customs of local ethnic minorities to avoid unnecessary troubles caused by improper behavior.