Tuwa Village at Kanas Lake [Altay / Aletai]

"One of Top Six Most Beautiful Towns and Villages in China"
Ranked by China National Geoegraphy Magazin

Tuwa Villages at Kanas Lake in Buerjin County, Aletai Region of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region: Sweet home by water

This frigid highland valley lake, nestling at the foot of the Youyi (Friendship) Peak of the Altay Mountains, is actually the widest section of the Kanas River, a tributary of the Erix River. The Erix originates in the Erix glacier, winds its way through the mountains becoming slow and gentle once it flows into this narrow strip of lowland. On its east and west banks are European primeval coniferous and birch forests, creating the scenery typical of forested areas in Scandinavia and Russia. The wooded valley, stretching for over 2,000 square kilometers from the lake, is China’s only area of ancient frigid forest. It is home to over 1,000 plant species, 300 kinds of animal and 100 kinds of bird, many of which are rare protected species. In the lake are 8 varieties of rare cold water fish, including the huge and ferocious hucho taimen, capable of swallowing a whole duck in the lake waters. On occasion the fish have even attacked and taken baby calves on the lake banks, and are thus known as Lake Monster, intensifying the lake’s mystery and color.

Kanas Lake is the core of the national natural reserve there. The lake was formed through strong exaration by glaciers. The lake surface is 1,375 m above sea level. Looking like a moon, the lake is 24.5 km long, averagely 1.9 km wide and 90 m deep. As one of the deep lakes of our country, it is 188.4 m deep at the deepest point, and covers an area of 4,600 hectare, and holds water 4 billion stere. Around the lake is thick and green theropence drymion that integrates with grasslands in mountains. In spring, various flowers are in blossom in the grassland, and grass is thick and green. Kanas Lake is a part of European eco-system, which is very rare in our country. Standing in the grass, you can see that cloud and mist near look like white ribbons round mountains. In the distance are snow-capped mountains on which thick forests grow. In July or August, standing Fish Viewing Pavilion that is 2030 m above sea level, and looking down at the view below you, you will be attracted by the beautiful lake and mountains. You can find that under the blue sky and white cloud the lake surface is just like a beautiful large color palette, whose color varies: some part is heavy in color, some is light, some is blue and some green. 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, will make you feel as if you were in a fairyland. When the sun rises in the morning or at the time it is getting dark after sunset, on a boat on the lake or standing on the platform at the lake center, if you are luck, you can see the mysterious 'lake monster' like a small boat, appearing or disappearing.

Kanas is the only outstretched belt of Siberian taigas forest in China, the only distribution area of Siberian plants in China, the largest branch river head of Etix River—the only water system to the Arctic Ocean in China.

Tuwa people
Over 1,400 Tuwa people live by the beautiful Kanas Lake. Before Kanas was opened to tourist, they lived in an almost isolated world. The inhabitants customarily live in Mongolian yurts, but there are also a few houses in the village.

They are also called 'Tuwa', 'Dewa' or 'Kukumenqiak', have a long history and were recorded in ancient literature. Kanas Lake is also the only place in China inhabited by Chinese Mongolian—Tuwa people, and the place of the alpine glacier with the smallest altitude in China. Some scholars hold the view that Tuwa people are offspring of the old, weak, sick and disabled soldiers left by Genghis khan when he led his troops to attack the West. But Tuwa elders said that their ancestors migrated from Siberia 500 years ago, and that they are the same ethnic group as the Tuwa people of the Tuwa Republic of Russia. Tuwa people keep their unique custom and language. Tuwa language falls into the Turkic language group, Altaic language family and is in close relation to Kazakh language. Tuwa people celebrate traditional Mongolian Aobao Festival, Zoulu Festival (Winter Festival), Spring Festival and Lantern Festival. Tuwa people believe in Buddhism. Tuwa people live in Tuwa village and Baihaba Tuwa village, Kanas, Aletai. Kanas Lake and Tuwa people, integrating with each other, constitute the unique view and folk at Kanas.

Best time to go
Spring and autumn especially the middle of May and September
The hottest annual average temperature in July is 60.8F.

Ticket
RMB 130/person (High season from 1 May to 15 October), RMB 80/person (Low season from 16 October to 30 April) Sightseeing bus: RMB 80/person, Sightseeing bus to Fish Viewing Pavilion: RMB 40/person, Sightseeing boat: RMB 100/person, The fee of frontier permitting: RMB 10/person

Around Landscape
Birch Park, General Cave & Mountain, Wulungu Lake, Baisha Lake, etc.

Local Snacks and Specialties
Carvings by root, Odd stone, Jewelry, Gem paintings, Awei mushroom, and Ethical embroidery, etc.

Travel Tips
Pay attention to the time! Beijing time here means that the sun doesn't rise until 09:00 and it is still light at midnight in the summer months.
Be sure to take warmer clothes for the nights and always carry plenty of drinking water even in the cooler months.
Be sure to respect local ethical customs and traditions. Please take sunbonnet, sunglass, umbrella, and suntan oil in summer.
You must transact the laissez-passer.
Please take sunbonnet, sunglass, and suntan oil in summer.
Be sure to respect local ethical customs and traditions.

Distance
Beijing (3768 km) Urumqi City (700 km) Buerjin County (530) Kanas Lake