Altay Kelan River National Wetland Park

Altay Kelan River National Wetland Park

Altay Kelan River National Wetland Park is a national-level wetland park.

The Kelan River is 265 kilometers long, flowing from north to south through the urban area of Altay, and then entering the Ertix River via the Kekesu Lake. It is a tributary of the Ertix River. The river has an average annual flow of 600 million cubic meters.

It lies within the canyon between Camel Mountain and General Mountain. Both riverbanks are covered with broad-leaved forests dominated by birch, followed by poplar, as well as shrubs. The birch trunks are silver-white, and their branches are soft, slender, and gracefully upright. When caressed by the river breeze, they sway delicately, looking like graceful young ladies standing elegantly. The main shrubs include wild roses, wild hawthorns, and woolly willows, and the forest floor is scattered with pebbles of various sizes. Clear river water flows gently through the woods. In summer, the trees are lush and green, providing dense shade that cools and moistens the air. Birds sing and flowers bloom, making the forest feel like a fairyland. In autumn, the sky is high and crisp, and the occasional white cloud drifts across the blue expanse. The leaves on the ground turn golden or red after the frost. A gentle breeze rustles through them before they fall, creating the most enchanting season in the Kelan River Valley. The scenic stretch of the Kelan River refers to the approximately 20-kilometer section from the confluence of the Big and Small Donggou streams to Hongdun Township. It is the best time for photographers to shoot outdoors, painters to sketch en plein air, and tourists to sightsee.