A Must-Visit Divine Realm in a Lifetime｜Kanas, Xinjiang, So Beautiful It Brings Tears to Your Eyes!

“Kanas Xinjiang Travel Guide” — Step into the Garden of the Gods and Encounter the Ultimate Romance of Snowy Mountains, Sacred Lakes, and Starry Skies

On the northwesternmost border of our motherland,
lies a fairy tale world embraced by snowy peaks and written by sacred mountains and lakes — Kanas.

This is the only place in China with landscapes similar to Northern Europe:
Mirror-like blue lakes, golden rolling birch forests, towering snow-capped mountains, Tuva people’s curling smoke…
Scenic all year round, every step is like a painting, every frame looks like it came out of a postcard.

This guide will take you on an in-depth tour of Kanas, helping you avoid crowds, stay deep in the forest, and capture stunning photos that will blow up your social media!

📍 Location
Located in Burqin County, Altay Prefecture, Xinjiang
At the junction of China, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Mongolia
The core of the scenic area is Kanas Lake, about 1374 meters above sea level, with a cold temperate alpine climate

✈️ How to Get There?
✅ By Plane: Fly to [Altay Airport] or [Kanas Airport (HEK)] → Then take a 2-hour drive to the scenic area
Kanas Airport operates seasonally (mainly May–October), with direct flights from Urumqi, Xi’an, Chengdu, etc.

✅ By Bus: Take a long-distance bus from Urumqi/Yining/Karamay to Burqin County → Transfer to local shuttle or carpool to the scenic area
✅ By Car: Recommended route: Urumqi → Five-Color Beach → Burqin → Kanas (about 800 km total, requires 2 days)
✅ By Charter/Group Tour: Suitable for first-time visitors to Xinjiang, safe and convenient, with one-stop service

🎫 Ticket Information
Kanas Scenic Area Pass (including Jiadengyu entrance):
Peak season (May 1–Oct 31): ¥160 (ticket) + ¥120 (shuttle bus) = ¥280
Off-season (Nov 1–Apr 30 next year): ¥80 + ¥100 = ¥180
2-day or multi-day tickets available for in-depth exploration
Students and seniors over 65 enjoy half-price discounts
It is recommended to book tickets in advance via the “Le You Altay” mini program

⏰ Opening Hours
Open year-round (some areas closed in winter)
Shuttle bus operation: 7:00–20:00 (extended in peak season)
Best travel season: June to mid-October (especially late September to early October for autumn scenery)

🏔 Kanas Core Highlights: One Lake, One Village, One World

✅ Three Core Scenic Spots
Kanas Lake | A 24-km-long alpine cold lake, rumored to have a “lake monster”
Guanyu Terrace | Climb to the top for a panoramic view of the lake’s S-shaped curve, unbeatable sight
Hemu Village & Baihaba Village | Original Tuva settlements, known as “China’s Most Beautiful Villages”

✅ Four Natural Wonders
Color-changing Lake: Kanas Lake changes colors like blue, green, cyan, gray depending on light and season
Sea of Clouds & Buddha’s Light: Often appears over Fairy Bay in the early morning, like a fairyland descending
Rime and Morning Mist: Summer mornings see rising water vapor, the lake shrouded in a light veil
Starry Sky & Milky Way: Far from light pollution, the night sky is crystal clear, star trails within reach

✅ Five Must-Visit Spots

Spot Feature
------ -------
Fairy Bay Morning mist lingers, wooden houses appear and disappear, a photography paradise
Moon Bay S-shaped river like a crescent moon nestled in the forest, colorful
Wolong Bay Small island in the river shaped like a sleeping dragon, calm water flow
Guanyu Terrace Climb 1,068 steps to overlook the entire Kanas Lake, breathtaking
Hemu Village Morning Light Snowy mountains visible from the window, smoke rising through the forest, called “God’s Reserved Land”

🚶 Recommended Itinerary (3-Day Classic Tour)

Plan: Three days and two nights in-depth tour (highly recommended)

Day 1: Arrive at Jiadengyu → Enter the scenic area → Visit the three bays
Arrive at Jiadengyu Visitor Center in the afternoon → Transfer to shuttle bus to Kanas Village
Check in and visit: Fairy Bay → Moon Bay → Wolong Bay (all with photo stops)
Stay in a wooden house homestay in old Kanas Village, enjoy local hot pot for dinner
Evening lakeside walk to watch the sunset

Day 2: Climb Guanyu Terrace + Light hike around the lake
Early morning → Walk or taxi to Guanyu Terrace entrance → Climb to the top for a full lake view (recommended to rent anti-slip shoe covers)
Afternoon hike along the lakeside boardwalk (optional to Yaze Lake) or take a boat tour (¥120/person)
Return to the village in the evening, photograph wooden houses lit up under the starry sky

Day 3: Visit Hemu Village or Baihaba Village (choose one)
Option A: Hemu Village (more popular)
Drive there → Stay with Tuva family → Climb Hadeng Viewing Platform to watch sunrise and morning mist
Stroll through birch forest, horseback ride across the grassland
Option B: Baihaba Village (more original, requires border permit)
Border permit required (household registration book + ID card)
A small village on the China-Russia border, quiet and mysterious, perfect for photography lovers
Return in the evening or stay another night

🏡 Accommodation Recommendations

🔹 Wooden house homestays in Kanas Village (recommended to stay one night)
[Qiju Bieyuan] [Shanyin Wooden House]: Tibetan style, mountain views from the window, very private
Price: ¥600–1500/night (peak season is busy, book early)

🔹 Boutique homestays in Hemu Village (a must-experience)
[Hemu Mountain Villa] [Watcher Camp]: Built by the river, great for stargazing at night
Offers heating, private bathrooms, better conditions than ordinary farmhouses

🔹 Hotels in Jiadengyu Town (cost-effective)
Chains like Home Inn, Jinjiang Inn, suitable for self-driving travelers or budget-conscious
Downside: Need to transfer shuttle bus to the scenic area

🍽 Must-Try Local Foods

Though remote, the flavors are unique:
Local hot pot: Lamb + potatoes + vermicelli slow-cooked, spicy and satisfying
Baorsak: Fried small dough pieces, eaten with milk tea
Dried meat pilaf: Salty and rich, full of energy
Milk tea & milk tofu: Handmade by herders, rich milky aroma
Roast whole lamb: Festival feast essential, great for sharing

📌 Recommended Restaurants: Kanas Village [Tuva Family Restaurant], Hemu Village [Starry Sky Restaurant]

📸 Photo Spots Recommendations

Location Best Time Effect Tips
-------- --------- -----------
Fairy Bay Early morning 6:00–7:30 Morning mist envelops, wooden houses appear and disappear
Moon Bay High point Morning side light Perfectly shows the S-shaped river curve
Guanyu Terrace Top Around sunrise Unobstructed panoramic view, lake and mountain scenery
Hemu Viewing Platform Sunrise Village smoke rises, golden sunlight fills the valley
Wooden Houses under Starry Sky Around midnight Milky Way stretches across rooftops, fairy tale vibe maxed out

🌌 Conclusion: Kanas is a Love Letter from Earth to the Soul

When you stand on Guanyu Terrace,
watching the jade-green lake winding through the mountains,
when the first wisp of smoke rises from Hemu Village in the morning mist,
you will understand—
there really is a place in this world,
where you can forget the noise and just want to live quietly.