Kangjia Shimenzi Scenic Area

Kangjia Shimenzi Scenic Area

Kangjia Shimenzi Scenic Area is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

Kangjia Shimenzi Scenic Area is located in Hutubi County, Changji Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. In November 2012, it was approved as a national AAA-level tourist attraction by the National Tourism Administration. The Kangjia Shimenzi Rock Carvings within the scenic area were listed as part of the seventh batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level in 2013.

(1) Prime Geographic Location

Kangjia Shimenzi Scenic Area is situated 75 kilometers south of Hutubi County. Hutubi County is the county-level city closest to the provincial capital Urumqi in northern Xinjiang and lies at the core of the Urumqi-Changji-Shihezi urban agglomeration. The scenic area enjoys convenient transportation, with the Wusu-Kuytun Expressway, National Highway 312, Provincial Highway S201, and Wuyi Road running east-west across the region. Currently, Hutubi County has initiated an upgrade project for the Huke Tourist Highway.

(2) Rich Tourism Resources

Kangjia Shimenzi Scenic Area mainly consists of three core attractions: the Kangjia Shimenzi Rock Carvings, the Tianshan Jurassic Hundred-Mile Danxia, and the Red Cliff Tianhu (Heavenly Lake). The area is located in the Kalazazu Mountains, which form China’s longest Jurassic mountain range, created by the Himalayan orogeny 70 million years ago. Known as the “Tianshan Geographic Scenery Corridor,” the Jurassic mountain system in the Kangjia Shimenzi Scenic Area of Hutubi County is a landmark of Xinjiang’s Jurassic geology and landforms. The majestic, ochre-colored mountains are interspersed with hues of orange, yellow, blue, and green, featuring cliffs and precipices stacked in layers that resemble skyscrapers. Many of the rock formations look like bizarre, giant sculptures, exemplifying classic Danxia landform and earning the title “Hundred-Mile Splendor of Danxia.” The Kangjia Shimenzi Rock Carvings are a rare depiction of fertility worship in China and the world. They are located on the northwest bank of the confluence of two mountain streams. The flat rock surface, covering about 120 square meters, features carvings of over 300 figures, ranging from 2.04 meters to just 19 centimeters in height. Both male and female figures are shown standing, lying, clothed, or nude, including depictions of sexual union, double-headed, and triple-headed figures—vividly illustrating the communal marriage customs of ancient people praying for fertility and population growth. Experts have confirmed that these carvings date back nearly 3,000 years and are remnants of the Saka people. In recent years, the Hutubi County government has placed high importance on tourism development, launching a cultural-tourism-driven plan to transform Kangjia Shimenzi Scenic Area into a national AAAAA-level tourist attraction and a national geopark.

(3) Effective Environmental Protection

The scenic area lies between near-mountain and remote-mountain zones, enjoying a mild climate and abundant rainfall. The mountainous soil is deep, supporting various vegetation such as wild mint and sand leeks. Within the scenic area, visitors can enjoy distant views of snow-capped peaks and mountains, as well as close-up sights of alpine meadows and Danxia landforms. In 2016, the Hutubi County government proposed the “Beautiful Hutubi” initiative with a long-term vision, implementing grazing bans and ecological restoration projects in the southern mountainous areas, laying a solid foundation for environmental protection in the scenic zone.

(4) Notable Development Achievements

Since its official opening, the scenic area has continuously increased efforts in attracting investment, developing tourism resources, and improving infrastructure. Over 20 million yuan has been invested to complete key projects such as the Magnificent Rivers and Mountains viewing platform, the Majestic Landscapes viewing platform, the Visitor Service Center, and fencing around the rock carvings. Since government-led operations began in 2010, tourist numbers have risen steadily, and tourism revenue has grown consistently. With ongoing promotional efforts, the scenic area has demonstrated strong momentum and promising prospects for future development.