Kansas Lake 喀纳斯湖 Travel Guide

Kansas Lake is tucked away in Xinjiang and China’s far North Western corner. The scenery here is more like Kazakstan or Russia than China with the 24km long and up to 2km wide lake flanked by birch and larch forest. If the stunning, Siberian-like scenery wasn’t enough there is some mystery thrown in regarding what is known as China’s Nessie – the Kansas Lake Monster, apparently last sighted in 2005!

For the wonderful scenery, the opportunity to meet Kazak nomads and the Lake itself.

Kansas Lake is becoming an increasingly popular destination for domestic tourists who usually visit it as a day trip. A trickle of foreign travellers are now finding their way up to the lake and rave about the hiking opportunities in the nature reserve as well as the chance to meet friendly Kazak nomads around the lake in the summer. The only accommodation available is outside the park in surrounding villages.

Remote, Kansas Lake is nevertheless a worthwhile add on to any Xinjiang trip and will help demonstrate the enormous variety of scenery this province offers the traveller.

It is possible to stay with Kazakh herders in this area or some tourist camps.

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By Phil Stanley & Headseast – TCTC Destination Expert.