Things to do in Beitun

The changes of the sunset at Ulungur Lake in Altay in 30 minutes. This is a seaside sunset that belongs to Xinjiang alone. 🌇 A thick layer of ice has formed on the Ulungur Lake in winter. 🧊 The team leaders will wait at the best viewing point of Ulungur Lake according to the time. ❗Best sunset time: arrive around 17:00 and leave after 19:30.

Ulungur Lake, located in Fuhai County, Altay Prefecture, Xinjiang, is the largest inland freshwater lake in northern Xinjiang and one of China's ten largest inland freshwater lakes. The lake comprises two parts: Ulungur Lake (a large, saltwater lake) in the north and Jili Lake (a small, freshwater lake) in the south, covering a total area of ​​approximately 1035 square kilometers. Situated deep in the Gobi Desert of the Junggar Basin, it is known as the "Gobi Sea" and "the sea furthest from the sea." Ulungur Lake integrates lakes, wetlands, Gobi Desert, and Yardang landforms, boasting silver-white sand beaches on its golden coast, the "Sea Devil City" Yardang landforms along Jili Lake, and rich wetland ecology, making it an important stopover point for migratory birds. At the same time, Ulungur Lake is the largest natural fishing ground in northern Xinjiang, abundant in high-quality cold-water fish such as pike and Baikal wrasse, and its winter fishing culture is highly distinctive. With its magnificent scenery, it serves as an important ecological barrier and tourist destination in northern Xinjiang.

🌈Northern Xinjiang Grand Loop, Stop 4: Kanas 🌈Beauty: Photos simply aren't enough to capture the breathtaking scenery. It's arguably the most beautiful scenic area in Northern Xinjiang, and perhaps the most representative natural landscape of the entire region. I'm not sure if it's the only one, but I think it is. 🌈Fish Viewing Platform: A must-see. There's a long queue at the visitor center for the shuttle bus; this is the most popular spot. There are 1068 steps to reach the platform, offering a panoramic view of Kanas. The turquoise lake stretches out before you, dotted with azure sky and golden primeval forests—truly stunning. 🌈Kanas Three Bays: The day before, I took a shuttle bus from Jiadengyu to the new village to check in. My mistake was bringing my suitcase. Fortunately, I could transfer my luggage at the visitor center the next day; otherwise, hiking through the Three Bays would have been quite arduous. Retrieving my luggage from the exit of the scenic area to Jiadengyu was also convenient—the design was very reasonable. Also, when hiking through the Three Bays, pay attention to the order. Hiking from the visitor center towards Jiadengyu is easier and involves less climbing. The entire hike was very comfortable, with beautiful scenery along the way. The most iconic attraction, in my opinion, is Moon Bay. It's a popular spot for photos and social media check-ins; it's the view featured on the cover of our Chinese textbooks and is also very popular on Douyin (TikTok). One thing to note: the restrooms near the shuttle bus stop on the third bay back to Jiadengyu are extremely small. Men have to queue, and the queues for women are even longer. It's best to find a place to relieve yourself beforehand, otherwise it can be quite uncomfortable. 🌈Summary: Kanas is absolutely stunning! We all agree that this is the most beautiful spot. There's a unique shade of green called "Kanas Green"—highly recommended!

The village nestled at the foot of the snow-capped mountains, though somewhat commercialized, now boasts hiking trails that take about four hours round trip, offering an immersive experience of Hemu's beauty! With the snow-capped mountains so close, the off-season makes for fewer crowds and stunning scenery! I highly recommend the viewing platform and hiking trails; you absolutely must experience both.

98 yuan is a great deal, highly recommended, and it's right in the city center. The sunset is absolutely stunning, far more beautiful than any sunset at Baihaba. The concert after sunset features really good music. A great choice to come here after returning from Kanas. General Mountain, I feel like I owe you a skiing experience. Our short visit of just over an hour left me wanting more. This project is very well managed. If you need to take the train, don't wait until 9:30 PM to go down the mountain, as it will likely be crowded.

Karamay's World Devil City is a Yardang landform sculpted by wind and sand over millions of years. A ride on the scenic train through the Gobi Desert reveals uniquely shaped rock formations rising from the barren landscape. The wind howls through the ravines, giving the place its name, "Devil City." At sunset, the changing light and shadow bathe the hills in a warm gold, creating a desolate yet breathtaking scene. The area possesses a vast, wild atmosphere, perfect for photography. Remember to bring sun and wind protection; it's a must-see natural wonder on the Northern Xinjiang loop.

The scenic area is small, not far from Burqin County. It features typical cliff-style Yardang landforms, with rock layers displaying vibrant colors of red, yellow, purple, and green due to varying mineral composition. On the opposite bank are a river valley oasis and poplar forests. At sunset in October, the combination of the sunset and the golden poplar forests on the opposite bank creates an exceptionally high saturation of colors.

It's so beautiful! Before coming, I was quite worried because of all the bad reviews online, especially since the leaves weren't yellow or green. But it was definitely worth the trip! The leaves are both yellow and green. I highly recommend it and give this scenic area a huge thumbs up, especially the 10 yuan round-trip sightseeing bus in the latter part of the trip – you absolutely must take it!

Baihaba: You can easily get there directly from the Kanas Scenic Area by shuttle bus. Very convenient. It's a village similar to Hemu. The scenery is slightly inferior to Hemu, but the village has a more border feel, with a sentry post (the first sentry post in Northwest China). Drones are also prohibited [smug face]. There's no such thing as a more authentic village; they all have the same commercial atmosphere. In fact, prices are higher than in Hemu. Overall, Kanas is the cheapest, Baihaba is the most expensive, and Hemu is in the middle.

It was my first time in Xinjiang and my first time seeing the Yadan landform. I was amazed by the wonders of nature. On the edge of Ulungur Lake, the lake and the Devil City reflected each other. I was amazed! It was worth our trip.