Kanas Lake
Name in Chinese: 喀纳斯湖 Kā Nà Sī Hú [ka:’na:sihu:]
Duration of Tour: Two Days
Location: Burqin County, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region
Highlights: Exotic Wild Beauty and Diverse Cultures, Photography and Hiking
Must-see Sightseeing Spots: the Crouching-Dragon Bay, the Moon Bay, the Fairy Bay and the Fish-watching Pavilion
Reputations: the Garden of Gods, the Wonderland on the Earth, One of China’s Most Beautiful Lakes, a National Geo-park, a National Forest Park, a National Five-star Scenic Area
Kanas Lake lies at the border region between China, Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia. It is a national geo-park and a five-star scenic area. The geo-park covers an area of 10,030 square kilometers(3,873 sq.mi). Well-known as the Wonderland on the Earth, Kanas Scenic Area attracts the photographers with its stunning glacial landscape. Set in the U-shaped valleys, Kanas Lake is surrounded by snow-capped mountains, creating a breathtaking scene that seems unreal. Its waters are the most amazing color, a rich shade of turquoise that changes in intensity through summer as the glaciers melt. The lake measures about 45 square kilometers(17 sq.mi) and 188.5 meters(618 feet) in depth. It is the deepest moraine lake in Mainland China. The must-see sightseeing spots in the park are the Crouching-Dragon Bay, the Moon Bay, the Fairy Bay and the Fish-watching Pavilion.
The Crouching-Dragon Bay
The Crouching-Dragon Bay is located 10 kilometers(6.2 miles) to the lake. It is a bend of the Kanas River. The water of Kanas Lake is discharged into the Arctic Ocean through the river. The bend looks like a dragon crouching in the verdant forest.
The Moon Bay
The Moon Bay lies about one kilometer upstream from the Crouching-Dragon Bay. As one of the bends of the Kanas River, it is in the shape of the letter “S”. There are two small sandbanks by the river. The sandbanks look like footprints. Legend has it that the footprints were made by Chang’e when she came for a rare herb. According to Chinese myth, Chang’e is a goddess living on the moon.
The Fairy Bay
The Fairy Bay is a wetland by the Kanas River, about 3 kilometers upstream the Moon Bay. Bushes and grasses grow down to the water’s edge. The grass is wet with early morning dew. When the grass is illuminated by the sun, it looks like a green carpet dotted with countless shiny pearls. Therefore, it is also called the Pearl Bay.
The Fish-watching Pavilion
The Fish-watching Pavilion is situated on a mountain peak, overlooking the lake. The mountain is called “the Camel Mountain”. The altitude of the pavilion is 2,030 meters above sea level. It is the most ideal place in the scenic area for visitors to have a panoramic view of the lake. Some of the visitors told that they enjoyed the spectacular view of the halo or the sea of clouds at the Fish-watching Pavilion. However, both the halo and the sea of clouds are natural phenomena that happen by chance.
How to Get to Kanas Lake
Kanas Lake Scenic Area is located in Burqin County, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, about 780 kilometers（485 miles) from Urumqi. There is an airport near the park. Tourists can fly to Burqin from Urumqi in summer and autumn. The airport is closed in winter. The tourists can also travel to Kanas Lake from Urumqi by road. Please click here to read more about our tested itinerary.
Travel Tips:
1. The sun’s ultraviolet rays are responsible for both tanning and burning. Please pack the suncream, sunglasses and sunhats for your tour to Northern Xinjiang.
2. There is a big temperature difference between the daytime and nighttime. Please pack some winter clothes before your travel to Kanas Lake.
Photography Tips:
A tripod, a filter, telephoto lenses and wide angle lenses are needed. Don’t miss the photographic golden hour at the Fish-watching Pavilion.
Suggested Itineraries:
Related Articles:
Author: Tina Luo
Update:
