Altay Prefecture

The "thousand-mile gallery" in the far north of Xinjiang, with Kanas, the autumn colors of Hemu and winter snow all inspiring.

Altay Prefecture lies in the far north of Xinjiang, bordering Kazakhstan, Russia and Mongolia, with forests, rivers and lakes spread across the Altai Mountains. Kanas Lake, Hemu Village and Baihaba Village are the best-known sights. Burqin's Colorful Beach sits beside the Irtysh River, Koktokay is known for its geological mining pit and the Irtysh Grand Canyon, and Ulungur Lake in Fuhai spreads across a vast expanse of water. September has the most beautiful autumn colors, and winter brings heavy snowfall, with ski resorts such as Jiangjun Mountain drawing skiers. Gateways are Altay Xuedu Airport and Burqin Kanas Airport.

Destinations

• Altay City
• Burqin & Wucaitan
• Kanas & Hemu
• Koktokay
• Fuhai & Ulungur Lake

Itineraries

• Golden Autumn in Altay: Kanas & Hemu – A spectacular autumn journey through Koktokay, Ulungur Lake, Hemu, Kanas, and Baihaba, ending with the Ahe Highway
• Altay Winter Ski & Snow Village Loop – In and out of Altay, skiing at Jiangjun Mountain, Jikepulin, and Koktokay, while enjoying the snowscapes of Hemu and Ka…
• North Xinjiang Grand Loop: Kanas, Ili & Duku Highway – Depart from Urumqi to loop through Altay, Sayram Lake, and Ili, returning via the northern section of the Duku Highway