Kanas Lake is the centerpiece of Altay Prefecture and one of China's most beautiful bodies of water. The lake stretches roughly 24 km through a glacially carved valley in the Altay Mountains, reaching depths of over 180 metres, and its colour shifts from deep blue to jade green depending on the season and light. The surrounding landscape — dense Siberian conifer and birch forest, snow-streaked peaks, meadows brilliant with wildflowers in summer — looks nothing like the rest of Xinjiang.
The lake sits inside the Kanas National Nature Reserve and is reached from the gateway settlement of Jiadengyu, from which shuttle buses carry visitors to the main scenic area. The Fish Watching Pavilion (Guan Yu Ting) offers an elevated view over the lake from which, in the right light, you can see deep into the water. The surrounding forest trails are excellent for walking — ask at the visitor centre for current conditions and any restricted zones.
The small Tuvan community living in the valley has fished and herded here for centuries. Their timber homes and guesthouses are among the most characterful places to stay in the entire region.