Kanas Lake

Chinese name: 喀纳斯（Ka Na Si）
Location: North Burqin, Altay prefecture, Xinjiang.
Ticket: Entrance ticket CNY160.00，Sightseeing bus CNY70.00, Kanas lake boating CNY120.00
Estimated tour time: 1-3 days
Recommended time to visit: All year round.
Nearby attractions: Hemu village, Baihaba village, Wucaitan Scenic Area, etc.

Kanas Lake is a lake in Altay Prefecture, Xinjiang, China. The lake is located in a valley in the Altai Mountains, close to the borders between Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Russia, and it contains the aptly named Youyi or “Friendship” Peak, which is the landmark where China, Russia, and Mongolia approximately meet.

The lake was formed around 200,000 years ago during the Quaternary period as a result of glacier movement. The crescent moon shaped lake has an estimated water storage capacity of 53.8 billion cubic meters, coupled with an average depth of around 120 meters.

The Kanas River, flowing out of the lake, later merges with the Hemu River to form the Burqin River, which itself discharges into the Irtysh River at Burqin Town, the county seat of Burqin County.There is a large population of ethnic Tuvans and Kazakhs in the Kanas valley.

The word “Kanas” means “beautiful, rich, and mysterious” in the Mongolian language and, with its towering snowy peaks, thick green forests, and turquoise hued waters, it certainly lives up to the title!

In Kanas Lake, tourists can view “Treasure Light”, which is called by local people “Buddha Light”. It, integrating with the beautiful Kanas Lake view, the white glaciers, the green grassland, the boundless forest, and the mist in mountains.

When spring comes, all kinds of flowers growing on the mountains bloom and send out a whiff of fragrance making a sea of flowers. Sometimes in the morning or at dawn, you'll have a chance to see the wonderful view formed by mist floating over the surface of the lake, giving you the illusion of standing in a fairyland.In autumn, surrounded by snowcapped mountains that are reflected on the water, the long bean-shaped lake presents a pretty landscape of forests in all imaginable colors.

On the south bank of the lake lives the Mongolian tribe Tuwa. The valiant ethnic minority believes in Lamaism and has a long history and special folk costums. 

Nowadays Kanas lake is a popular destination for hiking, rafting, rock climbing, paragliding, and boating, with the most popular hike being the one to Guangyu Pavilion. This scenic spot offers a stunning panoramic view of the surrounding mountains and grasslands. 

● Highlights of Kanas Lake

Three Bays of Kanas

The color of the lake changes with each season, so it's also named the colored lake. The lake takes the shape of a moon and composes of six bays formed by six platform each having a beautiful legend. The lofty mountains are reflected in the boundless expanse of green water.
Three Bays of Kanas can be said to be the symbol, the most beautiful and photographic spot there. Kanas-Shenxian Bay, the morning mist, the covenant, the fairy scorpion can be seen in the day; the moon bay, shaped like a new moon, the sun is refracted, the bright lake is emerald, and the dark is the sky color; Wolong Bay, as if it had been preying on the Tyrannosaurus Rex.
The viewing route of three bays can choose to shoot morning fog in Shenxianwan before going to Moonwan by scenic area bus. When the fog has not dispersed, overlooking Moonwan, the fog is floated in the bay, you can photograph that kind of fairylands feeling; and finally walk to Wolongwan. From Moonwan to Wolongwan is 2km road, there are some wooden trestle road close contact with Kanas Lake, along the way autumn is strong & beautiful.

Fishing Pavilion(Guanyu Ting)

Built on the top of Halakaite Mountain with a 600-meter vertical drop from the Kanas Lake, the Fishing Pavilion is the best site to watch the lake monsters. So this pavilion was called Fishing Pavilion, Guanyu Ting in Chinese.

Arriving in the Fishing Pavilion, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Kanas Lake. You can have a panoramic view of the Kanas Lake, whose surface is smooth and fairytale. And the Fairy Bay and Wolong Bay are also visible from far. Grasses, trees And waters are changing irregularly with the light. You can also see the beautiful mountains surrounding the Kanas Lake. In the north, there are lots of mountains that block the Kanas Lake, including the highest peak of Altaic Mountain-the Friendship Mountain (4374 meters -high). On top of the Friendship Mountain, there is an icy world, bright and clean.

The Tuwa Tribe

Wood Cabins Where Tuwa People LiveA Mongolian tribe called Tuwa lives on the south bank of the Kanas Lake. It is a valiant ethic minority with a long history. Tuwa people speak Turkish, resembling the language of Kazakh, and live on hunting and graze. They also have a special folk custom. The Tuwa live in pine wood cabins. Hunters and herders, they get plenty of beef and dairy in their diets. A faith in Lama Buddhism still bears a rich strain of shamanistic ideology, expressed in their still close ties to the land, and deliberate distance from the outside world.

● Best time to visit

The best time to visit the Kanas Lake is in June and September. In June, flowers bloom and trees turn green and everything are full of vigor. The flowers are at their best and Kanas lookes like an ocean of flowers. Entering September, Kanas entered the pure golden season. This is also the best time for photography.
Winter operation period (October 16 – April 30) is an ideal choice for visitors with limited budgets. Kanas does not close the mountain in winter, and the scenic spot is open for business. Visitors will see the fairyland-like original snowy scenery. Kanas will also host five major themes activities, namely, Snow and Ice Festival, Snow Carnival, Winter Ice and Snow Photography Season, Snowboard Invitational, Snow Sculpture Invitational.