A Paradise on Earth: Exploring the Beauty of Kanas

✨ **Magical Kanas | The Ultimate Guide to Northern Xinjiang's Hidden Gems, Exploring God's Palette** ✨ 💖 Kanas, the "Eye of God" in Altay, Xinjiang, is where snow-capped mountains, lakes, forests, and grasslands intertwine to create a picturesque landscape. Gilt in autumn and emerald in summer, it's recognized by *National Geographic* as the ultimate "Most Beautiful Autumn Scenery" in China! --- ### 🚗 **【Transportation Guide】** **Main Transportation** ✈️ **Airplane**: - **Kanas Airport** (seasonal): Operates from June to October, with direct flights to Urumqi/Xi'an/Chongqing, etc. Take a chartered car to the scenic area after landing (1 hour, approx. CNY 200). - **Altay Airport**: Open year-round, transfer to a bus/chartered car to Kanas (approx. 4 hours). 🚗 **Self-driving/Chartered Car**: - **Urumqi → Kanas**: S21 Desert Expressway + G219, approx. 10 hours, passing through the Five Colored Beach in Burqin. - **Classic Loop**: Urumqi → Koktokay → Burqin → Kanas → Hemu → Urho Devil City. **Scenic Area Transportation** 🚌 **Shuttle Bus**: - **Kanas Scenic Area**: Ticket + shuttle bus CNY 230/person (two entries CNY 270), accessible to Kanas Lake/Guanyutai/Three Bays. - **Hemu Village**: Shuttle bus CNY 52/person, walk or rent a horse within the village. 🚶 **Hiking Route**: Kanas Lake → Hemu (approx. 30 km, 2-3 days, guide required). --- ### 📍 **【Itinerary】** **Day 1: First Glimpse of the Sacred Lake · Journey Through Hidden Gems** - Morning: **Kanas Lake** (boat trip to search for the lake monster/stroll along the lakeside boardwalk) → **Guanyutai** (1068 steps overlooking the heart of the lake, no drones allowed) - Afternoon: **Three Bays Hike** (Moon Bay → Fairy Bay → Wolong Bay, 5 km wooden boardwalk, reflections of the golden forest in autumn) - Evening: Stay in a wooden cabin in Kanas Old Village, listen to the Tuvan Suer flute around the fireplace **Day 2: Hemu · God's Private Reserve** - Morning: Kanas → **Hemu Village** (1-hour drive) → **Hemu Bridge** → **Harden Platform** (panoramic view of morning mist and cooking smoke) - Afternoon: **Horse Riding on Beauty Peak** (8 km grassland trek, exploring the original Tuvan wooden houses) → **Birch Forest** (golden secret realm in autumn) - Evening: Bonfire party at **Hongbas Grassland Starry Sky Camp**, photograph the Milky Way arch bridge **Day 3: Border Secret Realm · Baihaba Village** - Full day: Kanas → **Baihaba Village** (border defense permit required, the first village in the northwest) → **China-Kazakhstan Grand Canyon** overlooking the neighboring country → Return **Day 4 (In-depth): Black Lake Secret Realm Hike** - Kanas → **Small Black Lake** (horse riding/hiking 18 km, alpine wetlands + wildflower sea) → Camping and stargazing (professional guide required) --- ### 📸 **【Must-See Attractions】** 🌟 **Kanas Three Bays**: Fairy Bay's morning mist like gauze, Moon Bay's S-shaped turquoise water, and Wolong Bay's Crocodile Island. 🌟 **Hemu Morning Mist**: Climb Harden Platform 1 hour before sunrise to see the cooking smoke and mist entwined with the wooden houses. 🌟 **Guanyutai**: Panoramic view of Kanas Lake, wildflowers cover the hillside in summer. 🌟 **Baihaba**: Primitive village + golden larch trees, check in at Boundary Marker No. 5. 🌟 **Hemu River Autumn Colors**: The birch forest on the riverbank reflects the turquoise water, stunning aerial photography with drones. --- ### 🏡 **【Accommodation Guide】** 🏔️ **Kanas Old Village**: - **Yuehu Hotel**: Lake view from the window, floor heating + oxygen supply, CNY 800-1500/night. - **Yundingge Guesthouse**: On the hillside of Guanyutai, stargazing rooms facing the forest, CNY 500-800/night. 🌲 **Hemu Village**: - **Century-old House**: Traditional Tuvan wooden house, skylight for stargazing, CNY 400-600/night. - **Taoyuan Shuiyi Guesthouse**: Designer aesthetics, floor-to-ceiling windows for enjoying autumn scenery, CNY 1200-2000/night. ⛺ **Glamping Experience**: - **Black Lake Secret Realm Camp**: Luxury tents + horse riding to explore the lake, including breakfast and dinner, CNY 1500+/person. --- ### 🍜 **【Food Recommendations】** 🔥 **Altay Cold Water Fish**: Grilled pike/black fish at Burqin Night Market, firm and fresh meat. 🥘 **Hand-Grabbed Mutton**: Grassland-raised sheep, served with piyaz (onions) and naan. 🍶 **Kazakh Milk Tea**: Salty, fragrant, and rich, paired with baursaki (fried dough). 🍯 **Kanas Honeydew Melon**: A sweet explosion catalyzed by the temperature difference between day and night! 🍢 **Tuvan Dairy Products**: Kurut, butter, yogurt, experience nomadic flavors. --- ### 💡 **【Essential Tips】** 1️⃣ **Seasonal Limits**: - **June-August**: Wildflowers all over the mountains, temperature 15-25°C; - **September-October**: Peak autumn scenery (best around September 20), room prices soar, book 2 months in advance; - **November-April**: Winter wonderland, some scenic areas are closed. 2️⃣ **Border Defense Permit**: - Apply for Baihaba in advance at your registered residence/Kanas Tourist Center, bring your ID card. 3️⃣ **Photography Equipment**: - Telephoto lens for capturing details in the morning mist, wide-angle lens for panoramic views of the Three Bays, tripod essential for starry skies and slow shutter speeds for water flow; - Red/white jackets are more photogenic in autumn. 4️⃣ **Avoid Pitfalls**: - High prices for food in scenic areas, bring your own snacks; - Negotiate horse riding prices beforehand, confirm whether insurance is included; - Do not trample on herders' grasslands, take your trash with you! 5️⃣ **Health Tips**: - Altitude approx. 1200-2000 meters, generally no altitude sickness, prepare motion sickness medicine (many mountain roads); - Large temperature difference between day and night, down jacket + sunscreen + sunglasses are essential. --- 🌈 Kanas, with blooming flowers in spring, emerald waves in summer, golden hues in autumn, and snow-covered landscapes in winter, awaits you to discover this piece of pure land in northern Xinjiang favored by the gods!