The salt lake is located in Alahake Township, Aletai City, and its exact time of formation is unknown. The lake covers an area of approximately 3,600 acres and is irregularly elliptical, slightly longer from east to west and slightly narrower from north to south. Its water primarily comes from underground sources, supplemented by meltwater from surrounding areas. In summer, the average depth of the lake ranges between 50–200 centimeters. By autumn, during the salt harvesting season (September 15…
Tolaiheti Grassland is located in Alahake Township, Altay City, 138 kilometers from the city center and 30 kilometers away from Hemu Scenic Area and Kanas Scenic Area. Visitors can take an intercity bus to Alahake Township and then transfer to a special tourist shuttle bus for direct access. It is a high-altitude grassland-type natural scenic area. The forest road leading to Tolaiheti passes through Tal…
The Dulat Petroglyphs are a regional-level cultural heritage site located along the road from Altay City to Wuzhiquan. The petroglyphs are situated on the sunny slope of a mountain, carved onto flat surfaces of schist. Covering an area of 1.1 square kilometers, there are nearly 100 petroglyphs in total, making them one of the rarest such sites in China. The carvings mainly depict animal figures, including…
Ehe Stone City is located in the Tuanjie Road Market in Altay City and is directly accessible by bus routes 1 and 101. Covering an area of over 1,000 square meters, it houses more than 10,000 unique stones. Ehe stones are found in the Ertix River basin, formed by the convergence of hundreds of rivers across the Altay Mountain range. Ehe stones are siliceous rocks, characterized by their hard and fine...
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 trees dominated by birch, followed by poplar...
The Kran River of Wuziqilike National Wetland Park is known as the Mother River of Altay, flowing ceaselessly to nourish the region. At the park’s core, the pristine glacial meltwater originates from its source, rushing and swirling — some flowing into lakes, gathering in wetlands, passing through forests, seeping into grasslands, emerging as open streams, or flowing unseen beneath stones...
Shuanghu Water Conservancy Scenic Area consists of two sister reservoirs, the Kuitun Reservoir and the Chepaizi Reservoir, hence the name “Shuanghu” (meaning “Double Lakes”). The Shuanghu Ecological Tourism Area is located over 60 kilometers from Kuytun City in Xinjiang and is a key highlight along the golden tourist route that includes Tianchi (Heavenly Lake), Devil’s City, Kanas, and Populus Euphratica Forest. The area boasts beautiful scenic trees, ancient Populus euphratica forests, picturesque…
Drive about 60 kilometers east from Altay City, cross the Kalaerqisi River, and you will arrive at the Kuobielike Mountain area in the northern part of Fuhai County. There is a valley known in Kazakh as “Kuobielike Bulak,” which means “Butterfly Valley” in Chinese. Stretching roughly 60 kilometers from north to south at an altitude of around 1,400 meters, the valley is surrounded by high…
The Kanas Nature Reserve is located in the northwest of Burqin, deep within the dense forests at the northwestern edge of China's Altai Mountains. It is one of the finest scenic tourism resources in Altay and can be hailed as the "Pearl of Altai Mountain Tourism." This scenic area is a forest-type comprehensive nature reserve and the only piece of Eurasian–Siberian taiga...
Tomb of Bai Shanbu Dunanbai To the east of Burqin County stands a towering monument — the Bai Shanbu Monument, which was built specifically to commemorate Bai Shanbu-Dunanbai, a renowned Kazakh folk composer and the founder of Dombra music. The monument is 8 meters high and covers an area of 150 square meters. Bai Shanbu-Dunanbai was born...
Ahegonggaiti Grassland Nomadic Culture Park Ahegonggaiti Grassland is located beside the road at the 96-kilometer mark from Burqin County to the Kanas Scenic Area, serving as the spring and autumn pasture for Yegezituobie Township in Burqin County. The area is surrounded by mountains on all sides, featuring flat terrain and rich vegetation, forming a central basin. “Ahegonggaiti” is a Mongolian term meaning...
Introduction: Wolong Bay is located in the Kanas River Valley and consists of a series of winding river bends formed by the long-term lateral erosion and scouring of the Kanas River. Climbing up to the platform beside the road on the eastern side, you can overlook the panoramic view of the Ω-shaped river bend, which resembles a dragon coiling and playing in the water—hence the name Wolong Bay (Dragon Bay). The riverbank is covered with lush green grass, blooming wildflowers, and herds of cattle and sheep…
Introduction: Along both banks of the Kaba River in Qibaer Township, there lies an exquisitely beautiful birch forest stretching approximately 28 kilometers in length and about 1.5 kilometers in width. It is the largest naturally grown birch forest belt in northwest China. In spring and summer, the forest floor is covered with lush green grass and dotted with wildflowers, while in winter it transforms into a glistening silver-white world. Xinjiang Hemu-Kanas...
Introduction From the name “Friendship Peak,” we can roughly guess that this is a border mountain. But few might realize that it marks the intersection of four countries: China, Mongolia, Russia, and Kazakhstan. Friendship Peak is the main peak of the Altai Mountain range, standing at an elevation of 4,374 meters. From the Fish-Watching Pavilion by Kanas Lake, you can…
Introduction Shenxian Bay is a riverside flatland where the flowing water carves the forest and grassland into a series of seemingly connected yet separate small islands, hence the name Shenxian Bay. In fact, it is a marshy shallow beach formed by the Kanas River in a low, gentle mountain valley. Under the sunlight, the river sparkles brilliantly, and even the leaves on the trees sway in the wind, glittering...
Guide: The rhythmically flowing waters create a musical cadence, making this one of the best sections for rafting. The cost for rafting is 200 yuan. Introduction: The Kanas River is a major tributary of the Burqin River, with its source originating from Kanas Lake. The lake water cascades down, winding through the valley and forming stunning bends such as the Sleeping Dragon Bay and Moon Bay...
Guide This is the best spot to take in a panoramic view of Kanas Lake. Climbing up to the Fish-Watching Pavilion has also become a must-do for every visitor to Kanas. There are two ways to get to the pavilion: one is by car, taking a detour around the back of the mountain to the mountainside; the other is to hike up the spiral stone steps specifically built for climbers from the front side of the mountain at the lake’s outlet. …
Introduction: The Command Platform is located near the east side of Duck Marsh Lake. Legend has it that Genghis Khan once reviewed his one-hundred-thousand-strong army here. At the site of the platform, unearthed relics include bronze armor belonging to a subordinate general of Genghis Khan’s western expeditionary forces. The craftsmanship is extremely refined, and even now the surface still shows a shine. It is said that in the area around Sumu River, there is also a large pot used by the troops which is buried under a massive rock...
Introduction The Kazakh name for White Lake is "Akekel," which means "white." The lake water appears semi-transparent milky white, hence its name. Its formation is due to the inner and outer moraine rock fragments in the upstream glaciers. Through glacial movement, these rocks were crushed and ground into white powder, which was then carried into the river and eventually into the lake, giving the water its distinctive color…
Tuvan Village is located 2–3 kilometers south of Kanas Lake in the Kanas River Valley of the Altay region, Xinjiang. Surrounded by picturesque mountains and clear waters, it boasts beautiful scenery and is the essential route from Burqin County to Kanas Lake. The village sits at an elevation of 1,390 meters. The residents of Kanas Tuvan Village are Tuvans who identify as Mongolian. Their ancestors…