Hemu Village
禾木村
A wooden-cabin village of the Tuvan people, where morning mist, white birch forests and snowy peaks form the “private domain of the gods.” It is one of China's most beautiful autumn scenes.
Hemu Village lies in Hemu Township of Burqin County, in a mountain basin beside the Hemu River at an elevation of about 1,200 metres. It is a village of wooden cabins inhabited by Tuvan and Kazakh people, and it still preserves steep-roofed log houses and wooden bridges. The signature activity is to climb to the viewing platform north of the village (about 20 minutes on foot) early in the morning and watch the mist rise from the Hemu River and drift over the white birch forest and the cabins with their rising smoke. The time just before and after sunrise is best. In autumn, temperatures can fall below zero, so bring a heavy coat. Other highlights include the white birches along the Hemu River, distant views of Meili Peak, and horse riding to the Jikepulin Grassland in summer. Admission is about CNY 70. Entering from Jiadengyu or Burqin requires the shuttle bus (about CNY 100 round trip), a journey of about 1.5–2 hours. From Kanas you can also transfer directly. It is recommended to stay one night in the village. During peak season, wooden cabin guesthouses are expensive and in short supply, so book at least a month ahead. In winter, Hemu offers snowmobiles, horse-drawn sleds and rime ice, making it the heart of Altay's snow tours. Since 2024, winter flight and road support in Altay has improved, but icy road surfaces still need caution.
Opening hours
Open all day (shuttle bus approx. 08:00–19:00)
Nearby sights
- Hemu Viewing Platform
- Meili Peak
- Jikepulin (Hemu) International Ski Resort
- Jiadengyu
- Tuojing (Camel Neck) Bay
- Wolong (Sleeping Dragon) Bay
- Moon Bay
- Shenxian (Fairy) Bay