Atlas of China
Kanas Lake 喀纳斯湖Kānàsī Hú
A milky-turquoise lake in the Altai forests that turns gold each autumn
- Best time
- Mid-Sep–early Oct (autumn), Jun–Aug
- Time needed
- 2–3 days
- Days to budget
- 2 days
- Stay in
- Burqin
- Region
- Xinjiang
- Type
- Nature
- Listed as
- 5A scenic area
Why go to Kanas Lake
High in the Altai Mountains near the borders with Kazakhstan, Russia and Mongolia, Kanas is a long glacial lake whose colour shifts from jade to milky blue with the light. Boardwalks follow the river through larch and birch forest past Moon Bay and Fairy Bay, and the nearby villages of Kanas and Hemu are home to Tuvan herders who live in log cabins.
The story
Kanas has its own lake-monster legend: herders have long told of huge creatures that drag livestock into the water. Scientists suggest the sightings may be giant taimen, a salmon-like fish that can grow longer than a person.
What to see at Kanas Lake
- Fairy Bay 神仙湾: A river bend where morning mist is the main draw; go at dawn, as it clears by mid-morning.
- Moon Bay 月亮湾: A crescent-shaped bend in the river, viewed from the walkway above and best in the late morning light.
- Sleeping Dragon Bay 卧龙湾: The last of the three river bays, named for a supposed resemblance to a coiled dragon; a boardwalk of about 2 km links it to Moon Bay.
- Fish-Viewing Pavilion 观鱼亭: More than a thousand steps climb to a panorama over the whole lake, which is hard going for small children and older visitors.
- Hemu village 禾木村: A Tuvan log-cabin village in a valley of birch and pine, famous for morning mist and starry skies; it needs its own ticket, shuttle and booking.
How to visit Kanas Lake
Entry to Kanas, like Hemu, is by real-name timed booking. Self-drivers park at Jiadengyu and take the park shuttle to the transfer centre, then ride the one-way shuttle loop, which calls at Fairy Bay, Moon Bay and Sleeping Dragon Bay in that order; walk the boardwalk between the last two if you like. Climb to the Fish-Viewing Pavilion for the lake view on a full day, and add Hemu on another.
How to get to Kanas Lake
Kanas Airport, in Burqin county with flights from Ürümqi, is about 1.5 hours by road from the Jiadengyu park gate (Burqin town is about three hours away); park buses take you on to the lake and villages.
Where to stay
Kanas village by the lake and Hemu village have guesthouses and Tuvan log cabins, good for dawn mist and stars; a night in Hemu is worth it. Jiadengyu, the village at the park gate, is the practical alternative, as lodging inside the lake area is limited.
What to eat
- Milk tea and baursak 奶茶与包尔萨克: Tuvan and Kazakh families serve hot milk tea, often in copper bowls, with golden fried dough; some tourist stalls use powdered milk, so ask for the home version.
- Air-dried meat noodles 风干肉拌面: Noodles tossed with strips of air-dried meat, a mountain village dish found around Hemu.
- Tuvan earth hotpot 土火锅: A charcoal-heated copper pot of mutton cooked with wild mushrooms, found mainly in Kanas old village.
Tips for visiting Kanas Lake
- Stay overnight inside the park, in Kanas or Hemu village, to see the lake at dawn.
- Pack warm layers: nights are cold even in summer, and snow can arrive by late September.
- Climb to the Fish-Viewing Pavilion for a panorama over the whole lake.
Trips with Kanas Lake
- Xinjiang: Ürümqi, Turpan, Kashgar, Karakul Lake and Kanas 11 days · Ürümqi, Turpan, Kashgar and Burqin
On the map
Open Kanas Lake on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it, what else is close, and to add it to a trip and plan the days.
Open Kanas Lake on the map