Altai

Kanas Travel Guide

Lakes and Tuva Villages in Northern Xinjiang: Sanwan, Hemu, Baihaba

Kanas is the flagship of Northern Xinjiang: the color-changing lake, the morning mist at Fairy Bay, the smoke from cooking in Hemu Village, and the border village of Baihaba. This article explains the movement routes within the scenic area, where to stay, the differences between golden autumn and the snowy season, as well as practical information on tickets and shuttle buses.

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Destination Details

Kanas Lake is hidden deep in the Altai Mountains, and the lake water changes color between blue and green depending on the season and light. The scenic area consists of the lake area, the Three Bays (Fairy Bay, Moon Bay, Wolong Bay), and the surrounding Tuva villages, along with the satellite villages of Hemu and Baihaba, forming the most classic part of Northern Xinjiang.

Scenic Area Routes

Lake Area: Take a boat or walk along the lakeside plank road for a while, then climb Guan Yu Tai (1068 steps) to overlook the whole lake and the direction of Friendship Peak.
Three Bays: The morning mist at Fairy Bay is the most famous (only catchable if staying within the scenic area), and the classic photo spot at Moon Bay is at the first corner of the plank road under the viewing platform.
Hemu Village: A Tuva settlement, the morning mist and cooking smoke are most spectacular when viewed from Haden Viewing Platform; worth staying one night.
Baihaba: A village on the China-Kazakhstan border, quieter, requires purchasing an inter-area shuttle and a border permit.

How Many Days to Stay, Best Time to Visit

Kanas + Hemu requires at least two nights and three days, adding Baihaba makes it three nights and four days. Seasons: Mid-September to early October, the golden autumn, is Kanas' highlight, with golden birch forests and stable morning mist; room rates are highest and require advance booking. June to July is the flower and green season; winter (December to February), the scenic area remains open, and activities like horse-drawn sleds and snow trekking offer a completely different experience.

Notes

Private cars cannot enter the scenic area and must switch to shuttle buses; mountain weather is changeable, and nighttime in October can drop below zero; during peak seasons (golden autumn, Spring Festival), accommodations need to be booked at least two to three weeks in advance; it takes about ten hours to drive from Urumqi to Jiadengyu, so most people choose to fly to Burqin or hire a car in segments.