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Home → China Tours → Silk Road Tours → Altay Travel Guide

Altay Travel Guide

Location: Altay is on the north edge of Xinjiang, bordered on Mongolia country in the north.

Population: 568,300

Area: 10,800 sq km

Nationalities: Han, Kazakstan, Hui, Uygur, Mongolia, etc.

History: 'Altay' in Mongolian and Turkic means 'Gold Mountain', since Altay Mountain has been a producer of gold since ancient times, and 84 other ferrous and non-ferrous minerals have been found in Altay Prefecture. In the third century B.C., before the Sakas people were driving to this, descendants of the Huns, Hsian-peis and Turks had ruled here. During the Tang Dynasty (618-907AD), the khanate was governed by Grand Anxi Frontier Command of the Tang Empire. The Uyghurs, and in the 12th century the Kara-Khitai, took possession of it in turn. The Oirats controlled the area until 1755 as Jagatai Khanate, when Qianlong's Manchus annexed it.

Climate: Located in the typical continental climate area, the Altay has windy spring, rainy summer, cool autumn and cold and long winter. The annual average temperature is 3.7℃ and the annual precipitation is 171.5 millimeters.

Transportation: Altay Airport is in the southwest of Altay city, about 10kms from the city center. Nanhang Xinjing Company opens Urumqi-Altay airline, seven scheduled flight every week.
Altay long-distance bus station is on No.16, Tuanjie Road, leading to all counties in Urumqi and Altay city.

Local Specialties: woven carpets, traditional musical instrument, embroider, root carve, bijou picture.

Local Food: rice eaten by hand, baked stuffed bun, fried noodles.

Major Attractions:
Kanas Lake – Kanas Lake lies near the Altay Mountain. It is China’s deepest freshwater lake. Kanas in Mongolian means lake in canyon. Nestled in the deep forests and mountains of Altay, the lake is 1,374 meters above sea level and covers an area of 45.73 square kilometers with the deepest point of 188.5 meters.





Travel Tips:
As a guest in kazakstan family, you must pay attention to the following items.
1. Do not move dishwares , food and lift pan cover, when host is cooking
2. Accept the meat and bedding sent by host appreciately, or the host will look down upon you.
3. Do not admire the owner’s gundog and livestocks
4. Do not point at somebody by finger or cudgel
5. Do not stay more than two days in Kazakstan’s family

Questions & Answers: