阿勒泰地区

Why this place

Altay is the far north of Xinjiang, bordering Kazakhstan, Russia and Mongolia, and its Kanas Lake is one of the most beautiful places in China: deep water surrounded by larch and birch forest, with snow peaks behind, and a genuine legend of a lake monster. It is where the Kazakh and Tuvan peoples live, and it holds the source of the Irtysh.

What to see

• Kanas Lake and the Hemu village — birch forest, wooden houses and the Kanas River
• The Tuva and Kazakh villages of the Altay mountains
• The Burqin and the Irtysh River, which flows north to the Arctic Ocean
• The Keketuohai geopark, with its granite peaks and the 'No.3' mine

What to eat

• Kazakh food: boiled mutton, milk tea, kumiss and 'baursak' fried dough
• Altay is known for its 'dabing' and its wild berries and mushrooms

How to plan

Four days: Burqin, Kanas and Hemu, with forest walks between the villages.

Best time

June–September for green; late September for the birch and larch colour, which is spectacular

Practical tips

• Kanas is remote and the season is short — book accommodation well ahead for the autumn colour, which is the peak