Altay

Koktokay Travel Guide

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

The geological legend deep in Altay: Mine No. 3 has even paid off the Soviet foreign debt, and the solitary peak of Shen Zhong Mountain at the end of the Irtysh Grand Canyon stands tall. This article explains three ways to play: canyon, mine, and ski resort.

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Destination Details

Keketuohai is located deep in the mountains of Fuyun County, Altay, with three notable highlights: No. 3 Mine — the "Hero Mine" that helped repay foreign debt in the last century, a geological textbook of rare metals; Irtysh Grand Canyon — granite peaks lined up along the river, ending at Shenzhong Mountain, which looks like a giant bell turned upside down; International Ski Resort — a newly emerging ski destination with a long snow season and great vertical drops on the slopes.

How to Play

No. 3 Mine and Geological Exhibition Hall: The huge terraced mine is striking and intuitive, and the ore specimens and historical exhibits are worth a slow look, about 2 hours.
Irtysh Grand Canyon: A shuttle takes you deep into the canyon, and hiking to and from Shenzhong Mountain takes about 2 hours. In autumn, birches frame the granite cliffs beautifully.
Winter Skiing: Snow season runs from November to April, with great powder snow. There are slopes suitable for beginners and intermediates.

Recommended Combinations

Keketuohai is on the eastern route between Urumqi and Burqin. On the Northern Xinjiang loop, it’s typical to plan one day: mine in the morning, canyon in the afternoon; during ski season, allocate two to three days separately.

Notes

Mountain areas have huge temperature differences between day and night, so jackets are needed all year; mobile signal is intermittent in the canyon; roads are icy in winter, so hire an experienced driver if taking a car.