Kanas + Surrounding Tianshan Mountains | Whether it's water or jade, all I see is this emerald green.

I have visited Xinjiang many times, and each time it was usually in summer. I have traveled extensively in the Yili region, but rarely ventured into the northern part. This time, I was fortunate to join 20 fellow travelers and had a deep exploration and investigation of the northern region. It was an extremely honorable and delightful experience!

                                                     Karez Wells: A Close Look at an Ancient Great Project

On the first day of our trip, we arrived at Jiaohe Posthouse in Turpan, East Xinjiang, where the Karez, one of the "Three Great Ancient Projects of China", is located.

Following the guide's footsteps, we smoothly entered the Jiaohe Post Station scenic area. First, we would pass through an area with statues and indoor displays. It vividly showed us the functions of the Jiaohe Post Station at that time and the once-busy Silk Road.

Then we took the elevator and arrived at the underground Karez to visit. The temperature underground was very low, which could effectively protect the water source, especially in the hot Eastern Xinjiang region. To think of such a method, one can't help but admire the wisdom of the ancients.

                                                                 Kumtag Desert, the charming feather-shaped desert

After leaving the Karez Well, the next day we headed to the Kumtag Desert in Shanshan City, Turpan Prefecture. It is the closest desert to the city, located on the outskirts of the city.

The weather was hot in the afternoon. We first rested in the hotel for a while before gradually entering the scenic area. We took the small train in the scenic area to the Wansha area. This area is located at the edge of the desert and the sand is relatively hard, which is not very suitable for sightseeing.

So, in order to have a better time playing with the sand and seeing the fan-shaped desert, our group of people took the sand-riding vehicles and headed deeper into the scenic area.

I have to say, this was indeed a very wise decision. Entering the heart of the desert, one immediately feels that the scenery is extremely beautiful.

We took many photos deep in the desert, and then, under the beautiful setting sun, we finally left contentedly.

                                                         Kalarjuun, an extremely beautiful green grassland

When it comes to the most memorable scenery during this trip, it has to be the Kalarjuun Grassland.

After visiting the Kekusu Grand Canyon, we successfully checked into the Pine Tree Campsite within the scenic area. After having a simple dinner at the Pine Tree Campsite, we strolled around the campsite to digest our food and waited for nightfall. Around 12 o'clock at night, the sky gradually darkened and more stars appeared randomly. Seeing this, my roommate and I quickly grabbed our phones and cameras and rushed out of the felt tent, locating the position of the Milky Way, and then took a series of intense photos. Although the night on the grassland was extremely cold, the countless beautiful stars made us feel extremely warm. This became the most unforgettable memory of our journey.

The next morning, we visited the Flower Terrace and the Falcon Terrace. Although it was just a regular tourist route, we couldn't help but marvel at the vastness of the Xinjiang grassland and the abundance of lush grass. Especially the horseback riding experience at the Falcon Terrace was amazing - riding along the Kuldai Forest Canyon all the way, it was truly wonderful!

                                                             Seri Mu Lake, named after it as "Blue Lake"

Although I have visited Sayram Lake many times, I still love this place very much.

Taking the bus to circle the lake is extremely convenient. When the weather is good, the scenery is absolutely beautiful. The circumference of the Sayram Lake is approximately 90 kilometers. Usually, we enter from the east gate and exit from the south gate. We were extremely lucky; we encountered excellent weather at the first stop, and everyone had a great time.

At the second and third stops, it was still sunny. From different perspectives, one could observe the changing colors of the lake water, which was truly amazing.

The most astonishing thing was that when we finally reached Songzhuotou, several swans were playing and swimming in the lake. The swans had rich feathers and a plump body, and were extremely beautiful. At this moment, looking at the swans before me and the azure Seryum Lake, one couldn't help but feel: These two are the most perfect match!

                                                                                                                    Huo Mu, stepping into "God's Private Plot"

One of the key highlights of this trip to the northern region was Hemo. Hemo is located in the Altay region, where the mysterious Tuva people live and it is also known as "God's Reserved Land".

Here is a magical Tuva wooden house. Hohhot is divided into a new village and an old village. We live in the old village. The transportation, accommodation and meals here are all quite convenient.

In the afternoon, with plenty of time, I and my team members went to the edge of Hemo Bridge and explored the Hemo River. Finally, we climbed to the Haden Observation Platform in the village to overlook the entire view of Hemo Village. It was quite an unforgettable experience.

The next morning, I and some of my team members got up early and were fortunate enough to encounter the morning mist in Hemo Village. It was extremely beautiful. This became the most unforgettable memory of our entire journey.

                                                                     Kanas, whether it is water or jade, its eyes are only this shade of green.

When it comes to the most unforgettable and beautiful scenery of this journey, it has to be Kanas.

I think the significance of Kanas in Xinjiang is no less than that of Jiuzhaigou in Sichuan.

We left Heimo early in the morning and then headed to the Fish Watching Platform in the afternoon. From here, you can have a panoramic view of almost the entire Kanas Lake.

It's not an easy task to reach the Fish Watching Platform. One has to walk up 1,062 steps. We started from the bottom of the mountain and walked slowly along the wooden walkway in the scenic area. The higher we went, the broader the view became and the more beautiful the scenery became. When we finally reached the Fish Watching Platform and looked down, we could actually see almost the entire Kanas Lake. The scenery was truly breathtaking!

After resting for a night in Kanas Village, the next morning we all took a bus to Kanas Sanjiang. From Moon Bay to Wolong Bay, it's a total of three kilometers. The scenery is excellent. Walking along the Kanas River, with green mountains and lush trees, it feels like "people are swimming in a painting". The lake water in Kanas is sometimes emerald green and sometimes deep blue. From different angles, it presents different colors, and I'm not sure if it's water or jade! Everyone also highly praised this short and pleasant hiking!

Epilogue

Unknowingly, the 12-day 11-night trip to Kanas and around Tianshan Mountain came to an end. I can't forget the heat of the eastern region and the beauty of the fan-shaped desert; Kalarjuun's grassland and starry sky were a pleasant surprise; the color of Sayram Lake remained beautiful; the Dushanzi Grand Canyon was a masterpiece of the earth over millions of years; the morning mist in Haimu was too charming and fortunate; the emerald green lake water of Kanas made it hard to leave...

Xinjiang is vast, so vast that even in 50 days, one can only cover a very small part of it. Xinjiang is beautiful, the summer of Yili and the northern part of Xinjiang are like a dream. The people in Xinjiang are very nice, the tour guides are professional, the drivers are enthusiastic, the guests are friendly, and the fruits are sweet... Back to Sichuan. The magnificent Xinjiang. See you next time~