Kanas Lake

Kanas Lake is located in Burqin County of Altay Region, about 800 kilometers away from Urumqi. It is one of the most famous beautiful scenic spots in Xinjiang and the world geological park recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). In Mongolian, Kanas means gorgeous and mysterious. The Taiga forest made up of Siberian larch, and Siberian spruce in the Kanas valley is home to abundant wildlife.

What Can be Visit & Optional Activities in Kanas Lake

When you are visiting in the scenic spot, you can also board the Guanyu Viewing Platform ( Guanyutai ) with a relative height of 600 meters (there is a sightseeing bus at the foot of the mountain, which needs to be purchased separately). You can overlook Kanas Lake, the snow-capped peaks, and three Bays ( Moon Bay, Shenxian Bay, Wolong Bay ). You can also take a cruise ship for about 2 hours.

There is a large population of ethnic Tuvans and Kazakhs in the Kanas Valley. While most of these people have maintained their traditional agricultural and nomadic lifestyles, many works in the developing tourism industry and have established facilities for orienteering, hiking, rafting, rock climbing, paragliding, and camping. 

                

1. Kanas Shuanghu Cruise Ship is a tourism project developed by Xinjiang Kanas Tourism Development Co., Ltd.: Shuanghu cruise ship began to sell tickets on June 1, 2015. It has more than six boats.

Shuang Hu Cruise Line: Shuanghu wharf Sandaowan (Shore view) - return trip. Shuang hu pier is located in the third Wharf on the east side of Kanas Lake, with a round-trip time of about 1 hour.

2. Hemu River Drifting in Kanas Lake: The total length of Hemu river rafting is 9km. The upper reaches of the river are mostly canyon areas with fast water flow. The river channels are mostly natural scoured channels with many river forks. In some places, the wave height can reach 1.5m-2m.

3. Hiking Routes in Kanas Lake: The eastern line is the ideal hiking route for Hiking enthusiasts, start from Jiadengyu, passes through Wolong Bay, Moon Bay, and Shenxian Bay, reaches Hemi, then from Heihu to Kanas from, finally returns to Jiadengyu. The whole journey is about 80 kilometers.

If you have plenty of time, you can hike to Naren ranch, visit the No. 5 boundary monument, and return to Jadengyu.

4. Visit The Local Tuva People: Visit ethnic minority families to learn the natural history, culture, diet, religion, and customs. There is a large population of ethnic Tuvans and Kazakhs in the Kanas Valley. While most of these people have maintained their traditional agricultural and nomadic lifestyles, many works in the developing tourism industry and have established facilities for orienteering, hiking, rafting, rock climbing, paragliding, and camping. 

5. Horse Riding in Kanas Lake is the best way to experience the prairie cultures. In Kanas Nature Park, you can ride a horse to the highest viewing platform ( Guanyutai ) to enjoy the magnificent landscape.

6. Bonfire Party in Kanas Lake: With the prosperous winter tourism industry, there are many unique winter Games and customs in Kanas Nature Reserve. Tourists can enjoy snow and ski in the daytime, and the evening bonfire party makes the night of Kanas Nature Park more lively.

Photography in Kanas Lake: Kanas Lake is one of the most beautiful photography places in Xinjiang, China. September is the best time for photography, the changeable lakes, Tuva villages far from the disturbing public.

Here, we listed three best photography routes for Kanas photography: Wuerhe - Burqin, Burqin - Kanas, and Kanas - Wuerhe.

Travel Information of Kanas Lake

                                     Opening Hours & Entrance Fee

                                 
                                            New route product price

                        Kanas Optional activities Charges

                            Kanas Shuttle Bus Charge

The Climate and weather of Kanas Lake:

The average annual temperature in Kanas Lake is shallow - only 4℃. The coldest month is January, with an average temperature of -24 ℃. The hottest month, July, has an average temperature of only 18.8℃. The temperature differs significantly between daytime and nighttime. Therefore layered clothing, with a good coat or an insulated jacket, is highly advisable.
Generally speaking, from June to September are the best time to visit and experience the ethnic custom in Kanas. In winter, everything in Northern of Xinjiang has turned into a world of ice and snow, a magnificent snowfield, a glittering birch forest haze, a snow-covered ice lake, and you can also experience the wonderful snow bergs.

                  Annual Temperature of the Year/℃ ( High-Low )

How to Get to Kanas Lake

In addition to two hiking routes, you can also drive into the village. The main road of Hemu village starts from Jiadengyu, about 50 kilometers. Private cars are not allowed to enter the scenic area.

1. Go to Kanas Lake By Air

a) Flight from Urumqi to Kanas, the airfare is from 150-200usd/pp include tax. Available from 10th June to 7th Oct

b) Air from Yining to Kanas airport. This route only available from July to Sept. 

Xinjiang Kanas Airport: Built close to a world-renowned scenic spot in northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. It is a seasonal airport that serves Burqin County and the nearby tourist destination Kanas Lake in Xinjiang. The airport was constructed in 2006 and opened on 15th August, 2007.

2. Drive to Kanas Lake from Urumqi

a) Urumqi - Beitun City (or Altay City) (National Highway 216, 650km) - Burqin county (National Highway 217, 98km) - Chonghul Township Kanas Lake (first automobile highway, 179km).

b) Urumqi - Wugongtai Town, Hutubi County (Wukui expressway or 312 National Road, 56km) - Karamay City (241 provincial roads, 320km) - Burqin county (217 National Road, 402km) - Chonghur Township - Kanas Lake (first automobile road, 179km).

3. Go to Kanas Lake by Train

Take the train from Urumqi - Beitun ( the train fare is from 150-300 CNY/pp include tax ); you can choose to go to Beitun railway station, Beitun station is 240 kilometers away from Kanas Nature Park. There are direct trains to Urumqi, Kuitun and Shihezi. You can take a bus from the railway station to Burqin, and then transfer from Burqin to Kanas.

Accommodations in Kanas Lake:

1. With the development of tourists in Xinjiang, a growing number of hotels are built in the park. The class range from home-stay to 5star with modern toilets and facilities. Travelers stay in Jiadengyu, which is 40kms from the lakeside.

2. It is recommended that you stay with local families in Hemu Village if you want to experience a taste of the 'old days.'

3. Breaking news, all the hotels were moved out to Jiadengyu for the environmental protection in the winter of 2019.

The Legend & Water Monster of Kanas Lake

When Genghis Khan, the Emperor of the Mongol Empire, traveled to the West, passed through the lake and named it. After he died, his body was preserved in the bottom of the lake, and the water monsters were his guards. In Mongolian, Kanas means gorgeous and mysterious.

As more observations are posted online in the 21st century, research and investigations were taken to discover the truth behind the water monsters. Scientists speculated the living giant creatures could be Hucho taimen, a species of freshwater fish in the salmon family.

Suggested Itinerary
9 Days Classical Xinjiang Tour                        North Xinjiang Tour from Urumqi to Kanas

Northern Xinjiang Tour                                12 days Photography Tour on Northern Xinjiang