Anjihai Grand Canyon

Anjihai Grand Canyon

(Photo by Silk Road Dream Seeker)

Also known as Hongshan Grand Canyon, Anjihai Grand Canyon is located in the geological fault zone at the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains west of Anjihai Town, Shawan County. Traveling from Urumqi, take the Wukui Expressway, exit at Shawan/Anjihai, then drive approximately 40 kilometers west along G312 National Highway. After passing the Anjihai Chili Market and the entrance to Bortungu Resort, in 2–3 kilometers you’ll see a large T-shaped junction. There’s a gas station on the east side of the junction to the south, and heading 50 kilometers south toward Hongshan Old Coal Mine will get you there.

The Anjihai River originates from the Tianshan Mountain range. Through years of erosion, it has carved out a canyon near Tonggut and formed a massive alluvial fan at the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains. The scale of the river valley alluvial fan is grand, fanning out northward like an umbrella, making it a remarkable geological wonder. This is not an official tourist site, and even locals know little about it—there are almost no visitors. The risks involved in taking photos here are quite high; looking down into the valley from the mountaintop can send chills down your spine.

The Anjihai River is one of the four major water systems in Shawan. Its upper reaches are the Bajian Gully, originating from the main peak of the Yilianhabiga Mountain. Near Tonggut, the river bursts out of the Tianshan Mountain canyon like an unbridled horse, rushing down and forming a vast alluvial fan at the northern foothills. In the plain hilly area about seven kilometers north of Yuangxing Palace, the river cuts through a steep gorge with towering cliffs, creating rare landforms in geological history—flatlands, perilous passes, and deep gorges.