Xinjiang Kanas Travel Guide: Encounter the Golden Fairy Tale World at 48°N Latitude

Spilled palette 🎨, China's last pure land ✨, reaching its peak beauty in September 🔥

Kanas, meaning "beautiful and mysterious lake" in Mongolian, is located on Provincial Road 232 (S232) in Burqin County, Altay Prefecture, Xinjiang. It is known as the "God's Reserved Land." Here, glaciers, snowfields, mountains, rivers, lakes, forests, and grasslands come together. Every autumn, it becomes a palette spilled by God, with golden birch forests, azure lakes, and towering snow-capped mountains forming a breathtaking painting.

✨ Best Travel Time
Mid-September to early October each year (best autumn colors)
Opening Hours:
May 1 - Oct 15: 08:00-20:00
Oct 16 - Apr 30 (next year): 10:00-18:00
Tickets 🎫: 230 RMB/person

📌 Complete Transportation Guide

🚩 For Flyers:
✈️ Direct flights to Kanas Airport (3 flights daily)
Arrival → Scenic area shuttle bus 30 min direct to Visitor Center
Early flights recommended to avoid fog ☁️

🚩 For Train Travelers:
🚂 Urumqi night train Z9578 (departs 21:40)
→ Carpool from Altay Station 50 RMB/person (2h)
→ Bus transfer at Burqin Bus Station 🚌 to scenic area direct bus 100 RMB/person (3h)

🚩 For Self-Drivers:
🚗 From Urumqi via G216 (10h)
Note ❗️ Speed limit 60 km/h on Burqin-Jiadengyu section
Parking fee 🅿️: 30 RMB/day (Jiadengyu multi-story parking lot)

🗓️ 3-Day Essential Itinerary

✨Day 1: First Encounter with Northern Xinjiang✨
⏰ Afternoon: Arrive in Burqin
🌅 Evening: Colorful Beach sunset viewing (ticket 45 RMB)
Magical moment watching rock layers reflect golden light ✨
🌃 Night: Visit night market, try kvass + grilled dogfish (about 50 RMB/person)
🏨 Stay: Burqin Fairy Tale Hotel (200+ RMB/night)

✨Day 2: Wonderland Kanas✨
🌄 Morning: Depart at 7:30 to avoid crowds
🌊 Morning: Hike around Kanas Lake (feeding wild ducks 🦆 is super fun)
⛰️ Afternoon: Climb Guanyu Terrace (1068 steps)
After 4 PM, take off-peak photos of Moon Bay S-curve 📸
🌌 Night: Stay in Kanas Old Village/New Village (New Village recommended for quieter stay)

✨Day 3: Dreamy Hemu✨
🌫️ Early morning: 6:30 capture morning mist at Fairy Bay (must stay in scenic area to catch first shuttle)
🚐 Morning: Private car 1.5h direct to Hemu Village (faster than shuttle)
☕ Afternoon: Drink milk tea under birch trees / visit Tuva wooden houses
🌆 Dusk: Watch cooking smoke rise from Harden Platform (absolutely beautiful!)
🌠 Night: Sleep in Hemu wooden cabin (fall asleep to the sound of the stream 💫)

💯 Must-Visit TOP 5

1️⃣ Three Bays PLUS:
· Fairy Bay (6:30 Tyndall effect is amazing!)
· Moon Bay (S-curve must-photograph spot)
· Wolong Bay (Dinosaur Island is adorable 🦕)

2️⃣ Kanas Lake Boat Tour (120 RMB/person)
Search for the mysterious "lake monster" 👀

3️⃣ Guanyu Terrace (climb to see sea of clouds wonderland ☁️)
Remember to wear comfortable shoes 👟 1068 steps!

4️⃣ Hemu Village (China’s most beautiful village 🏡)
Watch cooking smoke at Harden Platform at dusk 🌄

5️⃣ Baihaba Village (border permit required)
Experience the tranquility of Northwest’s first village 🍃

🏡 Accommodation Guide

📍 Jiadengyu: Kanas Folk Custom Park
Mongolian yurts/star rooms with unique charm ✨

📍 Kanas New Village: Sanbai Homestay
Smart home + wooden cabin experience 🌲

📍 Hemu Village: Hemu Mountain Villa
Garden-style wooden cabins, very healing 💐

🍖 Foodie Must-Try

· Burqin Night Market: Kvass + grilled dogfish forever the best!
· Hemu Earth Hotpot: Lamb so fresh it explodes with flavor 💥
· Baorsak: Local breakfast for 5 RMB, very filling
· Beef mixed noodles: Satisfying even inside the scenic area 😋

💡 Super Practical Tips

🧥 Clothing: Onion-style layering! T-shirt + fleece + windbreaker
(Daytime 24°C, night possibly 0°C ❄️)

🧳 Essentials: Sunscreen + sunglasses + motion sickness medicine + stomach medicine

💸 Money-saving Tips:
✈️ Book Urumqi flights 15 days in advance to save half
🎫 Buy combo ticket: Kanas + Hemu + Baihaba 375 RMB
🚗 Carpool for 4 is most cost-effective (Burqin-Hemu 600 RMB/car)

📸 Photography Tips

👗 Outfit: White/red/blue stand out best against golden background
📷 Equipment:
· Bring telephoto lens for Fairy Bay
· Use wide-angle for Guanyu Terrace
⏰ Golden hours: Early morning and evening light is softest

Save this guide and start your golden fairy tale journey in Northern Xinjiang! 🌟