Kanas Travel Guide

  Basic information Area code: 0906 Emergency phone: 110, 120, 119 Kanas Tourism Consultation Telephone: 0906-6326004 Altay City Tourism Bureau complaints phone: 0906-2122363 Qinghe County Tourism Bureau Complaints Telephone: 0906-8821679 Time difference: -2 hours Travel information Kanas is located in […]

 

Basic information

Area code: 0906
Emergency phone: 110, 120, 119
Kanas Tourism Consultation Telephone: 0906-6326004
Altay City Tourism Bureau complaints phone: 0906-2122363
Qinghe County Tourism Bureau Complaints Telephone: 0906-8821679 Time difference: -2 hours

Travel information

• • Kanas is located in the high latitudes in inland areas. The temperature difference between day and night is extremely large. The temperature difference is at 20°C every day.
  • If you want to trek in Kanas scenic Area, you need to find a local guide to avoid getting lost and accident.
  • Gas stations in the Kanas Scenic Area are closed for business during the winter season. If you need to drive into the scenic area by car, please prepare enough oil in Burqin or Chonghuer in advance according to your itinerary.
  •  self- driving vehicle must pass the police checking point in Kanas Scenic spot, you need to apply for a border pass at the Kanas border police station or Haba River County, before go to white Haba village.

 

Medical treatment

Altay City People’s Hospital
Address: Jinshan Road, Altay City
Tel: 0906-2122338
The sixteenth hospital
Address: No. 7 Tuanjie South Road, Altay City
Tel: 0906-6473510

Destination Overview

 

Destination sketch

Kanas is located in the northern part of Burqin County in the Altay region of Xinjiang, China. It is located in a golden area bordering China, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Mongolia. In 2009, it was named “China’s Most Beautiful Lake” by China National Geographic magazine.

 Local life

Tuvans, a native of Kanas. In China, there are only more than 2,000 Tuva people, mainly in Kanas Village, Hemu Township and Baihaba Village. According to the ethnic group, the Tuva people belong to an ancient branch of the Mongolian people, but unlike the Mongolian people, they have their own language but they do not have their own script.

Beliefs and taboos

Tuvans are Tibetan Buddhist believers.

Culture

Sur
An instrument made from locally produced reed tubes, one foot long and having three sound holes. To Tuwa people, “Sur” is a means of communication between Tuva and nature.
Humai
Humai is a magical singing art created by the Mongolian people: a singer sings two voices at the same time using his voiced organ.

Local Festival

Chagansala (Spring Festival)
The Lunar New Year is the most important holiday of the Tuva year. On the day of New Year’s Day, Tuva people will be dressed in festive costumes. The whole village will gather on snow and ice to hold horse racing, archery, wrestling and ski jumping competitions. On the eve of New Year’s Eve, the whole family was reunited to eat lamb and dumplings.
Aobao worship festival June
Aobao a special kind of building in the Mongolian residential area. The Tuva people still have to hold ceremonies such as offering sacrifices, sacrificing land, offering mountains, offering rivers, and offering fire.

Best Travel season

The best season to Kanas is from June to October, After Golden week in October, Kanas will be closed because of weather.

Currency and Consumption

 

Consumption level

In the Kanas Lake area, there are Kanas Villas available for accommodation, as well as cheaper yurts for tourists to choose from. The diet is a bit more expensive than other border cities, and is around RMB 80 per person. Traffic is still the main cost of travel. Therefore, the average daily tourism consumption in Kanas is over 600 yuan.

 UnionPay ATM

In Altay, it is easy to find main bank, you can withdraw money in Burqin County betfore go to Kanas.

Practical information

Information Center
Altay Regional Tourism Bureau Address: 30 Jiefang Road, Altay City
Tel: 0906-2135638
Www.lyj.xjalt.gov.cn
Altay City Tourism Bureau
Address: 26 Tuanjie Road, Altay City
Tel: 0906-2133660
Www.alt.gov.cn
Burqin County Tourism Bureau
Address: 19-7 Youyifeng Road, Burqin County, Altai Region
Tel: 0906-6526985
Www.lvyj.brj.gov.cn
Jimunai County Tourism Bureau
Address: Complaint on 8 Tuanjie South Road, Jimunai County, Altay Region
Tel: 0906-6185800
Www.jmn.gov.cn
Kanas Tourist Center
Address: Kanas Scenic Area, Burqin County, Altai Region
Tel: 0906-6524464

Intercity traffic

 

Aircraft

Kanas Airport Kanasi Airport, KJI
The Kanas Airport is a seasonal tourist airport. The Kanas Airport sails at the beginning of June each year, and is suspended after the National Day Golden Week. The airport is open for 4 months each year. You can choose the Urumqi-Kanas route to reach the scenic spot.
Altay Airport Altay Airpor, AAT
There are flights to and from Urumqi.
Address: Near the National Highway No. 21 on Aletai City
Arrival method: taxi to the city around 20 yuan
Tel: 0906-2826116

Train

Beitun Railway Station
The nearest station to Kanas is Beidun Station. Visitors can make a train from Urumqi to Beitun City and then transfer to another station. Beitun Station is a 1.5-hour drive from Kanas.
Address: Beitun Town, Altay City

Traffic in the city

The best choice of transferring between cities are chartered bus, There are generally gold cups, jeep and vans, with fees ranging from 800 to 2000.
Altai Regional Transport Office
Tel: 0906-2311343
Altay Regional Passenger Transport Company
Tel: 0906-2311144

Attractions

 

Kanas

Kanas means “beautiful, rich and mysterious place in Mongolian”
Address: Altai Region, Burqin County, Habahe County Ticketing Point: Stone House and Tieke Getty Township
Tickets: RMB 110 for the period from October 15, 2015 to April 30, 2016 (Winter tourist fare includes 90 yuan for tickets and 20 yuan for maintenance fees for ancient villages, and one ticket for the Kanas, Zhangmu, and Baihaba areas).
Entertainment: Cruise 120 yuan, drifting 200 yuan, campfire 168 yuan scenic area
Tel: 0906-6525561, 0906-6327808
Www.kns.gov.cn

Chonghuer Township

Chonghuer Township is a basin in the Kazakh language. This is the entrance ticket for the Kanas winter scenic spot.

  Jia Dengyu

Jia Dengyu is also a tourism center of Kanas. It is start point place where many people go horseback riding or go hiking in Hemu Township.

Wolong Bay (crouching dragon Bay)

Wolong Bay is a series of shoreline winding rivers formed by the long-term erosion of the Kanas River. It is said that a long time ago, a dragon was splashing in water, suddenly the weather changed, and river frozen in an instant. The dragon frozen here, so named after Wolong Bay.

Moon Bay

About one kilometer away from Wolong Bay, you will find another amazing “Moon Bay” where the Kanas Riverbed forms several anti-S bends. The meandering river is like a crescent Moon, so it is called Moon Bay.

Fairy Bay

The river water here divides forests and grasslands into small islands. People call it Fairy Bay. It is actually a swampy shoal formed by the Kanas River in the low mountains.

Fishing Pavilion (Guanyu Ting)

This is the best place to observe the Kanas Lake monster, so it is named “Fishing Pavilion”. It is also the only place where you can enjoy the whole beauty of Kanas. Here you can take a bird view of three-quarters Kanas lake view. you can clearly see the highest peak of Altai Mountain, the friendship peak.

Camelback Bay

Camelback Bay is the first site to enter the Kanas River Valley and is known in Kazak as “Botomu”, meaning the camel neck. Here, the Kanas River forms a “Z” shaped like a camel neck that turns from southeast to southwest and then east.

Kanas Lake

The Kanas Lake is a fortified lake formed by the intense movement of ancient glaciers. It is surrounded by pristine forest and is a paradise for wildlife. Kanas is Mongolian, meaning “beautiful and rich, mysterious” or “lake in the canyon.”

Tuvan village

The indigenous people of the Kanas region are the Tuva people. The village buildings of Tuva are quite Swiss-style, with all-wood structures and pointed roofs. The birch forests and evergreen pine trees surround the village. The villages are in the valley. Serene and peaceful, this place is like a paradise.

Thousand Lake

At an altitude of 2,160 to 2,500 meters, lakes of large and small sizes are dotted with thousands. This group of lakes is actually the result of ancient glaciers. It was developed from ancient ice hoppers, ice kiln and snow basins.❖

Lake Akkol (White Lake)

Standing on the lakeside, you can see the lowest altitude glaciers in China, the Friendship Peak Glacier.

❖White Haba Village

It is the westernmost village in China, known as the “First Village in the Northwest,” and its residents are mainly Tuva and Kazak. The most beautiful season of White Haba is autumn. At autum, White Haba is adorned with red, yellow, green, and brown colors, reflecting the snow-capped peaks of the Altai Mountains. It is like a thick oil painting.
Address: Terjekti Township, Habahe County, Altai Region
Arrival method: Take a shuttle bus from Habahe County directly to Baihaba. There are 2 trains per day. After the winter season from October to April and May of the following year, the shuttle bus stops.
Tickets: Tickets are 50 yuan, the village maintenance costs 20 yuan; Kanas, Tieke Getty Township to Baihaba one-way ticket 62 yuan.

Hemu Township

Hemu Township is in an open basin surrounded by mountains. It has the purest air and the most pristine Altai landscape, making it a haven for tourism and photography enthusiasts.
Address: Qimu Village, Minas Town, Kanas, Burqin County, Altai Region
Tickets: 60 yuan, and village maintenance costs 20 yuan
Arrival method: Take a direct bus ride from Burqin County to Tochigi for a daily fare of 45 yuan

Birch forest Park

The famous natural park in the city of Altay is dominated by birch forests. The large “Altay Light” relief wall in the park is called “the first wall of Xinjiang”. Kazakh-style yurts and wooden houses can be seen everywhere.
Address: No.56, Gongyuan Road, Altay City, Altay City How to get there: Take a taxi from downtown to 15 yuan
Tickets: 30 yuan

Irtysh River colorful beach

The Irtysh River is the only river in China that flows into the Arctic Ocean, and beach is surrounded by the high and low hills around the landforms of Yadan. The colorful beach is formed by water erosion cutting and wind erosion, plus the strata in this area. It originally contained coal and other minerals, and appeared bright colors such as red, green, purple, yellow, and brown.
Address: About 24 km north of Burqin County, Altay Region How to get there: About 80 yuan from Burqin County
Tickets: 50 yuan
Tel: 0906-6325170

Haba River birch forest

The birch forest is long and about 28 kilometers long and about 1.5 kilometers wide. It is said to be the largest natural wild birch forest in China. The beautiful scenery attracts many photographers and painters to find inspiration. It is the best place for creating birch forest theme.
Address: Kusada section of Habahe County, Altai Region
Arrival method: About 4km west of the county seat, take a taxi to a ticket of about RMB 10
Ticket: Free

White Sand Lake

Baisha Lake is a small desert lake surrounded by sand dunes near the border line west of White Haba. The annual autumn is the most beautiful season of Baisha Lake.
Address: Within the Habahe County, Altai Region
Arrival method: chartered, cost about 300 yuan, along the way through the birch forest, you can visit together

Butterfly ditch

Every year from June to September, Butterfly Ditch is the ocean of butterflies. There are dozens of species of butterflies here.
Address: Qiaoqiao Section, Fuhai County, Altai Region
How to get there: About 300 RMB from Altai City Car Rental
Tickets: 20 yuan

Chermuzek ancient tombs

Chermuzek ancient tombs are one of the typical representatives of the Altai grassland culture. There are about 30 ancient tombs, and the earliest times of tombs can be traced back to the Warring States period. The ancient tombs of Mulcek are divided into sealed earth stone tombs and stone grave tombs.
Address: Within the town of Chelmcek, Altay City
Arrival method: Take a taxi from Altay city and get back and forth for about 50 yuan Ticket: 20 yuan

Qinghe Sandao Haizi Stone Mound Tomb

This is the most magnificent ancient tomb group in northern Xinjiang. The entire stone tomb is composed of grave bodies, heaven paths, tombstones, totems, tombs and other stone circles. The scale of tomb is unique in China and even in the world.
Address: Northeast Qinghe County, Altay City
Arrival method: Rent a cross-country vehicle from Qinghe County to Shi Duo Mausoleum. There are 40 kilometers of mountain roads along the way. The road condition is poor and bumpy. It will cost around 800 yuan.
Tickets: 50 yuan

Keketuohai National Geopark

The Keketuohai National Geopark is the only geological park in China that is currently themed with mining industrial sites, earthquake sites, and unique Altay granites. Consist of three main area “Irchis River Grand Canyon”, “Kekehaohai No. 3 pit”, “Kalaigergar earthquake fault zone” and other parts.

Yileimu Lake

If you can take a look down at the river, you can see the entire lake surface “8” font, like a huge aquamarine embedded in the green earth.
Address: 5 km west of Coco Tuohai Town, Fuyun County, Altai Region
Arrival method: Fuyun County Bus Terminal has a shuttle bus to Coco Tuohai Bus Terminal every day at 11:00 and 17:00, and the fare is about 12 yuan; you can also take a van from the bus terminal to Cocohai, around 30 per person, departure time is not fixed
Opening hours: 9:00 to 19:00, the return shuttle bus departs at 19:30 at the last stop, you can saty overnight inside of this scenic spot.
Tickets: Scenic tickets 90 yuan, sightseeing bus 36 yuan ticket
Tourism hotline: 0906-8728810, 0906-8725168
Rescue phone: 0906-8399000
Complaints Telephone: 0906-8399991
Www.keketuohai.com.cn

 Irtysh River Gorge

If there is another place in the northern Altai Mountains that is able to be compared with Kanas, it must be the Grand Canyon of the Irtysh River in Cocoto Sea.
Arrival method: Scenic tourist bus, or taxi from Coco Tuohai to the
opening hours: 9:00-18:00

Itinerary

 

Kanas scenic spot trekking route

Line A: Haba River – Naren Valley – Narenshaw Ranch – Shuanghu – Tiewaike – Kanas (about 70 km)
This route is generally crossed in the mountains. If riding is faster, it takes about 3 days. If you are on foot, it takes 3 days too.
Line B: White Haba Village – Kanas (28 km)
Line C: Kanas – Xiaoheihu – Hemu Township (about 36 kilometers)
This route is the largest one in the Kanas hiking route. The time is short and the is more safe. The route is mature and suitable for most people to walk through.
Line D: Hemu Township – Sanhe Junction – Jia Dengyu (about 25 km)

Food

Tuvan people mainly eat dairy products, beef and mutton, and pasta. The method of eating meat products mainly involves grasping meat and they are also very good at making bacon. Pasta with fried food Bursak, grilled quail and noodles. Milk is the most important food and drink for Tuvan people.

Activities

 

 Alashan Hot Spring

Address: Altai Mountain, North of Fuhai County, Altai Region
Arrival method: Alashan Hot Spring belongs to Kalamaga Township, 140 kilometers from Fuhai County and about 60 kilometers to the south is Altay City. There is only a simple mountain road to reach. The people usually go to Kalamaga Village and rent horse to mountain.
Tickets: 20 yuan

Drifting

From the Kanas lake south part outlet to Wolong Bay, the length of the drifting river is about 9 kilometers. The fee is 200 yuan. The rafting time is about 50 minutes to 1 hour. It is a seasonal entertainment project and it is not open in winter.

Horse-drawn sleigh

Traveling to Kanas in winter is the only way to travel by horse-drawn sleigh rides.

Accommodation

There are some nice hotels in Kanas, which the environment is better, you can take a hot bath, the price is slightly expensive, during the off-season is between 250 yuan, the peak season will turn 2,3 times than off season. There are also some local Tuva people’s guest houses and tents that can be accommodated in the scenic spot. The price is relatively cheap, the standard room is about 200 yuan, the bed is about 50 yuan, and the facilities are simple. If you want to feel the beauty of Kanas early morning, you can choose to live in the scenic area.

shopping

Eucalyptus Caucasian Honey
Kanas Melon
Aquamarine
Siliconized wood
fruit, dried fruit

Special market

Burqin and Folk Custom Park
Address: Bank of Irtysh River, Burqin County, Altai Region

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