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!
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### 🚗 **【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).
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### 📍 **【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)
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### 📸 **【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.
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### 🏡 **【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.
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### 🍜 **【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.
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### 💡 **【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.
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🌈 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!