Hemu Village is a traditional settlement of the Tuvan people, a small Turkic community numbering only a few thousand who have lived in these mountain valleys for centuries. The village sits in a broad meadow flanked by forest and mountains about 40 km east of Kanas Lake, and feels genuinely remote even at the height of tourist season.
The log houses here are built in a distinctly Siberian style, quite unlike anything else in China. Many Tuvan families keep herds of cattle and horses, and the sight of livestock being driven along valley tracks at dusk is a common one. Guesthouses run by local families offer simple but atmospheric accommodation — sleeping in a Tuvan home is one of the more memorable experiences the prefecture offers.
From Hemu, hiking trails lead up into the surrounding forest and onto ridges with wide views of the Altay range. The valley is particularly beautiful in autumn.