Things to do in Altay Prefecture

We entered the park at noon and left at 6 PM, visiting Kanas Lake, Fairy Bay, and the mountains overlooking Kanas Lake. The scenery was breathtaking. We used a Toyota Coaster to take us up the mountains to Kanas. Overall, the trip was fantastic.

The village nestled at the foot of the snow-capped mountains, though somewhat commercialized, now boasts hiking trails that take about four hours round trip, offering an immersive experience of Hemu's beauty! With the snow-capped mountains so close, the off-season makes for fewer crowds and stunning scenery! I highly recommend the viewing platform and hiking trails; you absolutely must experience both.

🌈Second Stop on the Northern Xinjiang Grand Loop: Keketuohai Scenic Area 🌈Why Come Here? A Choice Between Coming and Not Coming… Many people choose to visit this stop on the Northern Xinjiang Grand Loop, while many others don't, considering it a non-essential attraction. There are two main reasons for not coming: firstly, getting here isn't always convenient, and secondly, the scenery isn't as breathtaking as other places! There are also two reasons for coming: one is the popular song "The Shepherd of Keketuohai" that made the area famous, and the other is its 5A rating. According to our self-driving itinerary, this was a stop, but looking back, it was a decision we somewhat regretted, which I'll elaborate on later. 🌈Shuttle Bus or Self-Driving? Because we had more to do, and driving through Northern Xinjiang would take a long time, we opted for the shuttle bus to save energy. Also, reviews said the roads within the scenic area weren't very driver-friendly. The experience was quite good, and we felt driving wasn't much better. Besides, you can't drive into the Grand Canyon later on. 🌈Main Attractions: The Ertis River is exceptionally clear and is the only river in China that flows into the Arctic Ocean. Shuttle buses stop at most major attractions. The birch forest is beautiful and photogenic. Other attractions also stop for a few minutes for photos. The Couple Trees are quite interesting. The final stop is Shenzhong Mountain, which is very impressive and holds a world record. It took about three to four hours to get there. To reach the Grand Canyon, you need to walk to the next shuttle bus stop and then take the bus. Considering our itinerary included Hemu instead of Altay, we skipped the Grand Canyon, which was a slight regret. 🌈Summary: This attraction wasn't on the most convenient route, perhaps due to poor itinerary planning. Overall, the scenery wasn't as breathtaking as Kanas or Sayram Lake. Our itinerary was heavily influenced by Keketuohai, which left us with some regrets. Hopefully, this review will be helpful to you!

The scenic area is small, not far from Burqin County. It features typical cliff-style Yardang landforms, with rock layers displaying vibrant colors of red, yellow, purple, and green due to varying mineral composition. On the opposite bank are a river valley oasis and poplar forests. At sunset in October, the combination of the sunset and the golden poplar forests on the opposite bank creates an exceptionally high saturation of colors.

Baihaba: You can easily get there directly from the Kanas Scenic Area by shuttle bus. Very convenient. It's a village similar to Hemu. The scenery is slightly inferior to Hemu, but the village has a more border feel, with a sentry post (the first sentry post in Northwest China). Drones are also prohibited [smug face]. There's no such thing as a more authentic village; they all have the same commercial atmosphere. In fact, prices are higher than in Hemu. Overall, Kanas is the cheapest, Baihaba is the most expensive, and Hemu is in the middle.

98 yuan is a great deal, highly recommended, and it's right in the city center. The sunset is absolutely stunning, far more beautiful than any sunset at Baihaba. The concert after sunset features really good music. A great choice to come here after returning from Kanas. General Mountain, I feel like I owe you a skiing experience. Our short visit of just over an hour left me wanting more. This project is very well managed. If you need to take the train, don't wait until 9:30 PM to go down the mountain, as it will likely be crowded.

Ulungur Lake, located in Fuhai County, Altay Prefecture, Xinjiang, is the largest inland freshwater lake in northern Xinjiang and one of China's ten largest inland freshwater lakes. The lake comprises two parts: Ulungur Lake (a large, saltwater lake) in the north and Jili Lake (a small, freshwater lake) in the south, covering a total area of ​​approximately 1035 square kilometers. Situated deep in the Gobi Desert of the Junggar Basin, it is known as the "Gobi Sea" and "the sea furthest from the sea." Ulungur Lake integrates lakes, wetlands, Gobi Desert, and Yardang landforms, boasting silver-white sand beaches on its golden coast, the "Sea Devil City" Yardang landforms along Jili Lake, and rich wetland ecology, making it an important stopover point for migratory birds. At the same time, Ulungur Lake is the largest natural fishing ground in northern Xinjiang, abundant in high-quality cold-water fish such as pike and Baikal wrasse, and its winter fishing culture is highly distinctive. With its magnificent scenery, it serves as an important ecological barrier and tourist destination in northern Xinjiang.

We traveled all the way from Harbin to Jikepulin. The ski slopes and snow here are absolutely worth the trip. Jikepulin alone can completely satisfy all your needs; you don't need to go to Keketuhai or other ski resorts.

The waters of Kanas Lake change colors with the light and shadow, surrounded by pristine taiga forests, possessing both beauty and mystery. The Fish Viewing Platform offers the best panoramic view. The scenic area is quite extensive, and shuttle buses often have long wait times during peak season.

White Sand Lake in Habahe, Altay, is a blue lake surrounded by Gobi sand dunes. Birch and reeds line its banks, the sand doesn't encroach on the lake, and the still water reflects the mountains. Hidden on the border of the 185th Regiment, its scenery and stories of border defense coexist, making it a worthwhile destination on the western frontier of northern Xinjiang. During the National Day holiday, you can also see desert flames and European aspen.