Things to do in Altay Prefecture

Kanas is even more beautiful in autumn, especially after a rain when a thin mist hangs over the mountains, adding to its ancient charm. The shuttle buses are fairly frequent, but the only downsides are the expensive accommodations and the long bus journeys – it takes two hours to get there and back. Overall, it's well worth a visit.

The village is quite commercialized, but the forest trail from Hemu Bridge to Yuanjiang Bridge is absolutely fantastic! Autumn colors are vibrant, small animals leap among the trees, and babbling brooks flow merrily. I even bumped into our hike guide—a little black dog—by Hemu Bridge; he looked imposing but was friendly inside 😘 I'll definitely go play with him again next time. We went to the much-praised Meili Peak, but it was just okay; not as beautiful as the scenery around Kanas New Village, not worth making a special trip for.

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.

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.

🌈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!

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.

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.

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.

At Baisha Lake in the 185th Regiment, a 10-minute walk southwest along the lakeside boardwalk leads to the Watcher's Cafe, featuring pavilions, benches, sand dunes, lake views, and coffee. In late September, the soft light is excellent between 4 PM and 6 PM; however, visiting at midday or facing backlighting will inevitably result in poor photos. The Northwest North Regiment Management Area, located at the tail end of the "rooster" map, on the China-Kazakhstan border, and the terminus of G331, tells the story of a couple's outpost: On April 23, 1988, the Altai Mountains experienced an unprecedented rapid snowmelt, causing a massive flood in the border river. The river flowed directly into the Karasu Natural Gully within my country's territory, rushing into the Ertis River. If the flood had been allowed to carve out this new river channel, the border line would have followed the river's course, and 55.5 square kilometers of land would have become a disputed area, separated from the area—the land of today's Northwest North, the area of ​​the couple's outpost. The 185th Regiment, with over 600 members, worked continuously for 16 days and nights, eating and sleeping on the dike, finally managing to block the floodwaters back to the original channel of the Alakbek River, saving 55.5 square kilometers of land. Ma Junwu, then 19 years old, was one of the militia members who participated in the flood control efforts and personally experienced the battle. After the flood, Ma Junwu voluntarily stayed behind, and he and his wife, Zhang Zhengmei, remained there, dedicating their lives to the area. They were even received and praised by President Xi Jinping, which is how the "Couple's Outpost" came to be.

This is a significant cultural and geological site, with its massive spiral mine being truly awe-inspiring. This mine played a crucial role in China's debt repayment efforts and the development of China's nuclear and space programs; the historical introduction deeply moved me. The park's explanations are clear, and the accompanying exhibition halls offer detailed educational content, allowing visitors to learn about various rare minerals. Parking is convenient, and the pace of the tour is leisurely. The Northern Xinjiang Loop is well worth a special trip to experience this spirit of hard work and perseverance, offering both scenic beauty and educational value.