So difficult! Finally figured out the Kanas travel guide

Xinjiang Kanas is truly amazing!✨ Coming here in autumn is like stepping into a fairy tale world. Golden birch forests layer over deep green spruces, and when the wind blows, golden leaves fall like foil. The azure Kanas Lake looks like a gem dropped by God, reflecting the sky, mountains, forests, and snowy peaks all at once, so beautiful it makes you want to slow your breath～ This time I personally tested a 2-day 1-night deep tour and compiled a super comprehensive practical guide. Friends preparing to go, quickly save this to avoid 99% of detours! 🏞 Stunning hidden gems 📍 Kanas Lake (S232, Burqin County, Altay Prefecture, Xinjiang) ✨ Open year-round 10:00-18:00 (extended to 20:00 in peak season, subject to official announcements) 👉🏻 Key check-in spots: 1️⃣ Fish Viewing Platform: Known as the "panoramic center of Kanas," the 1080 steps are not steep. Along the way, you might see squirrels darting through the forest and enjoy the autumn colors transitioning in the layered woods. The moment you reach the top, you’ll be speechless—the lake curves like a crescent moon, the water shifts from shallow green near the shore to deep blue in the center, snowy peaks of the Altay Mountains in the distance, and scattered wooden houses below. When the morning mist lingers, it feels like floating in the clouds. It’s recommended to start before 8 AM to avoid the crowd after 10 AM. The soft morning light makes the lake water clearer and avoids the glare of midday sun. 2️⃣ Moon Bay: Kanas’s "internet-famous postcard," the S-shaped river bend nestled in the valley, with two small islands in the river resembling footprints (nicknamed "Fairy Footprints"). In autumn, the poplar leaves on the shore turn golden, reflecting in the clear river water. Every shot looks like wallpaper. Besides the main viewing platform, be sure to walk down 5 minutes to the riverside boardwalk to see the water gently caressing the pebbles up close, with sunlight filtering through the leaves creating light spots, enhancing the atmosphere! Remember to wear waterproof and non-slip shoes, as the boardwalk is dewy in the early morning and can be slippery. 3️⃣ Fairy Bay: The name "where fairies live" is well deserved! This is the bay with the thickest morning mist among the three bays. The best viewing time is 7-9 AM. The thin mist drapes over the river like a veil, with wooden houses, cooking smoke, and reflections of cattle and horses faintly visible in the water. Walking on the boardwalk feels like entering an ink painting. For photos without people, it’s best to arrive before 7 AM when there are fewer visitors and the mist is thickest. Using a telephoto lens can capture a dreamy mix of sharp and blurred scenes. 4️⃣ Wolong Bay: The quietest of the three bays, the island in the lake looks like a dormant crouching dragon. The primitive forest on both sides has the richest color layers—golden birch, deep green spruce, and reddish shrubs intertwined. The lake surface is as calm as a mirror, perfectly reflecting the scenery on the shore. There are fewer people here, making it ideal to sit on a bench by the boardwalk, daydream, listen to the wind rustling the leaves, and feel the slow pace of Kanas. ✨ Tips: • Shuttle buses run every 20 minutes with bilingual commentary, detailing legends and best photo spots at each attraction. Don’t miss it! • Don’t be disappointed on cloudy days; the misty Kanas has a mysterious vibe, and photos come out with a "fairyland filter" effect～ • It’s windy and humid by the lake, so bring waterproof and windproof jackets. In late autumn, add a thin down liner as the temperature difference between morning and night can exceed 15℃. 🚗 Transportation Guide From Burqin to Kanas is about 150 km, choose from 3 options as needed: 1️⃣ Self-driving: About 3.5 hours along National Road S232, passing through Chonghuer Township and Hemu Junction. The roadside grasslands, herds, and birch forests are free scenic spots where you can stop anytime for photos. Watch out for speed monitoring (some sections limited to 60 km/h). Parking in the scenic area is tight during peak season, so plan your time in advance. 2️⃣ Car hire: 800-1000 RMB/day (including fuel and tolls), highly recommended! Drivers are local experts familiar with road conditions and hidden viewpoints. They can help with luggage, recommend food, and stop anytime for good scenery. Great value for 2-4 people traveling together. 3️⃣ Direct shuttle: Departs from Burqin Bus Station daily at 10 AM, ticket 50 RMB/person, about 4 hours direct to Kanas Visitor Center. Return at 3 PM the next day. The downside is inflexibility with no stops allowed. ✅ In-park transportation: • Core scenic area pass (includes Jiadengyu - Transfer Center - Three Bays - Kanas Village) costs 110 RMB/person, valid for 2 days with unlimited rides. • To visit Fish Viewing Platform, buy an additional shuttle ticket for 20 RMB round trip. It’s recommended to visit on the same day as the main Kanas Lake area. • To go to Baihaba Village, you must get a border pass at the Transfer Center (free with ID), then buy a shuttle ticket for 45 RMB round trip. The ride takes about 1 hour. It’s best to spend two days leisurely: on day one, explore the Three Bays; on day two, visit Fish Viewing Platform in the morning and the main Kanas Lake area in the afternoon. If time allows, add a half-day trip to Baihaba Village. 🍜 Food Recommendations The scenic area mainly features Tuva ethnic and Xinjiang specialties. Here are 3 tested and reliable places: 1️⃣ Tuva Village Milk Tea House (Old Kanas Village): 25 RMB/cup, authentic salty milk tea made with brick tea and fresh milk, rich and warming. Paired with freshly baked Bo’ersake (fried dough), salty and crispy, it’s the locals’ favorite breakfast combo～ 2️⃣ Grassland Roasted Lamb Leg (New Kanas Village): Lamb skewers 10 RMB each, lamb leg sold by weight (about 80 RMB per jin), freshly slaughtered and roasted, sprinkled with cumin and chili powder, crispy outside and tender inside, no gamey taste. Perfect with Xinjiang beer or kvass, refreshing and satisfying. 3️⃣ Wooden House Hand-grabbed Rice (Jiadengyu Town): 35 RMB/serving, rice soaked with lamb fat and carrot aroma, grains distinct, served with large chunks of hand-grabbed lamb, tender meat, topped with homemade yogurt, sweet and sour to cut the grease, great value. 4️⃣ Must-eat at Burqin Night Market: If staying in Burqin, don’t miss the riverside night market! Fresh and boneless grilled dogfish (40 RMB each), fragrant grilled lamb kidneys and buns, plus handmade ice cream (15 RMB/serving) with rich milk flavor and just the right sweetness～ 🏡 Accommodation Suggestions 1️⃣ Inside the scenic area: • Old and New Kanas Villages: 300-600 RMB/night (prices rise in peak season), all Tuva wooden houses with private bathrooms and heating. Some inns offer mountain or lake views right from the window, and starry skies at night. The downside is limited availability in peak season, so book 1-2 months in advance. • Jiadengyu Town: 300-500 RMB/night, closest to the visitor center with convenient transport and more hotel options, from budget to star-rated inns. Suitable for those who want convenience and don’t want to rush early to catch the shuttle. 2️⃣ Burqin County Town: • Star hotels 200-300 RMB/night, budget hotels 150-200 RMB/night, better value and more complete facilities. You can enjoy the night market and food at night. Suitable for those on a budget or who dislike crowded scenic areas. The downside is the daily commute to Kanas, which takes time. ✨ Accommodation Tips: • Book early for peak season (mid-September to early October). Last-minute bookings can double in price or have no availability! • Most inns inside the scenic area have electric blankets or heating, so no worries about cold nights. However, water temperature for showers may fluctuate, so avoid peak water usage times (8-10 PM).