Things to do in Fuyun

No. 3 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Xinjiang

Keketuohai Scenic District

Keketuohai Scenic District is located northeast of Fuyun County in Altay Prefecture, northern Xinjiang, serving as a key attraction for visitors exploring the Kanas loop route. The area features deep valleys, crystal-clear rivers, and steep, picturesque mountains in a breathtaking natural setting. Expansive birch, poplar, and pine forests thrive between the canyons, making fall the ideal season to visit when golden foliage creates a stunning contrast with the snow-capped peaks behind them. This harmonious blend of mountains, forests, and waterways makes it a prime location for fall photography. The Keketuohai Scenic District in the broad sense refers to a vast area near Keketuohai Town, comprising four sections: Kekesuli, Yileimu Lake, the Karaxian Geer Earthquake Fault Zone, and the Eerqisi Grand Canyon. Kekesuli, Yileimu Lake, and the Karaxian Geer Earthquake Fault Zone are located along the route to the grand canyon. These areas are not developed attractions but are open to visitors free of charge, offering brief sightseeing opportunities en route. The Eerqisi Grand Canyon serves as the main attraction of the entire Keketuohai Scenic District, which is typically what visitors refer to when mentioning the area. Keketuohai Scenic District (also known as Eerqisi Grand Canyon Scenic Area) is the source of the Eerqisi River, a famous waterway in northern Xinjiang. The attraction spans approx. 20 km, featuring over a dozen scenic spots along the riverbank including birch forests, Shuimogou, Shenzhong Mountain, and hot springs. A shuttle service operates within the attraction, offering round-trip tickets from the main gate to Shenzhong Mountain (one-way 17 km). The shuttle operates like a bus, making several stops where visitors can explore nearby attractions before boarding the next vehicle. From Shenzhong Mountain, it's another 6.5 km hike to the hot springs in the canyon's depths. Those preferring not to walk can take the attraction's patrol vehicle instead. Key attractions along the route from the park entrance to Shenzhong Mountain include Birch Forest, Shuimo Valley, Red Leaf Valley, and Shenzhong Mountain. The path features numerous peculiar peaks and rock formations, with the stunningly clear Ertix River flowing through the middle – perfect for an immersive exploration experience. The birch forest near the attraction entrance and the red-leaf valley by the Stone Gate parking area are perfect for fall viewing, with leaves turning either golden or fiery red, creating a spectacular display. During fall, the mountains behind the forest begin to accumulate snow, resembling beautiful snow-capped peaks. The interplay of colorful leaves, rivers, and snowy mountains makes it an ideal time for stunning photography. Shuimogou is best visited in summer. A short walk west leads to vast grasslands that burst into colorful wildflower blooms during the season, earning one area the name Hundred Flowers Meadow. Shenzhong Mountain, a striking granite peak standing steep and solitary, serves as the park's iconic landmark with its unique rock formations. Inside Shenzhong Mountain, you'll find attractions like Elephant Trunk Peak, Camel Peak, and Divine Eagle Peak, where you can admire peculiar rock formations and mountain waterfalls. The highlight is the Jiland Hot Spring deep in the canyon, with water at approx. 39°C – close to body temperature for maximum comfort. If you have the stamina, we recommend hiking from Shenzhong Mountain to the hot spring to enjoy every scenic view along the way, followed by the ultimate relaxation of soaking in the thermal waters after your trek. Average visitors typically spend approx. half a day exploring before heading back to Fuyun County or Keketuohai Scenic District for accommodation, then continue toward Kanas or Urumqi the next day. Travelers who prefer hiking or in-depth exploration can stay overnight within the attraction, with local herders' yurts available near Shimen parking area, Shenzhongshan parking area, and the hot springs. The campsite near the hot springs also offers free camping space for visitors with their own equipment, allowing flexible choices based on personal preferences.

2026 Asia 50 - Ski Resorts

Keketuohai International Ski Resort

Keketuohai International Ski Resort is centered on Keketuohai Town and is located due east of Keketuohai Town, approximately 18 km from the town. The planned slopes at the resort cover beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. Keketuohai Ski Resort plans to have 80 slopes with a total length of 121 km; 23 slopes with a total length of 61 km have been completed so far. There are 8 cable cars, with the highest point at an altitude of 3,100 m and a vertical drop of up to 1,350 m. The completion of Keketuohai International Ski Resort will establish it as a destination for world winter sports, equipped with standard competitive conditions to host the ten major snow events of the Winter Olympic Games, filling the domestic gap in winter sports for downhill skiing venues and the ten major snow events of the Winter Olympic Games. Upon completion, the project can serve as a public off-piste skiing area while also possessing the competitive function for hosting Winter Olympic Games events, making it the only ski resort in China with both functions simultaneously. The Irtysh Grand Canyon near the ski resort has a distinctive charm in winter, where birch forests covered in rime ice contrast beautifully with snow-covered rock formations, allowing visitors to enjoy the winter scenery of the Altay Mountains in addition to skiing. It is worth noting that the ski resort sits at a relatively high altitude, so first-time visitors should pay attention to altitude sickness and acclimatization; the off-piste terrain is complex and rocky, so skiers should travel in groups, wear helmets and other protective gear, and choose slopes and skiing areas according to their ability.

No. 2 of Family-friendly Attractions in Altay Prefecture

Keketuohai Rare Metal National Mine Park

Keketuohai Rare Metal National Mine Park is a cultural tourism holy land integrating geological academic research, culture, education and leisure vacation. In addition to enjoying the scenery, visitors can also learn about the rich geological wonders and industrial relics, and listen to the touching entrepreneurial stories of the older generation of builders.

Kekesuli Lake

Kekesuli Lake is located in Fuyun County, Xinjiang, about 25km away from the county seat, and is also known as Wild Duck Lake. The lake covers an area of ​​about 1.8 square kilometers, with an average water depth of 2 meters. There are more than 20 floating islands of various sizes in the lake, and rich aquatic plants. What is more peculiar is that the reeds in the water grow directly on the water without roots, drifting with the wind, and the scenery changes with the wind. The scenery on the lake changes with the changes of the reeds. Every summer and autumn, thousands of wild ducks and red geese gather here to reproduce. The wild ducks forage for food and play in the water in pairs, and they always stay together. Once one leaves, the other will never "marry" again for the rest of its life. It often hovers alone over the lake and flies low. The scene is miserable and moving. " Wild Duck Lake has both the exquisite beauty of West Lake and the reed maze of Baiyangdian, presenting a beautiful scene of "sand gulls flying and gathering" and "fish swimming in the shallows". In the distance, tall mountains with wrinkled gullies can be vaguely seen. On the other side of the lake, there are more than 10,000 mu of open and flat grasslands scattered with leisurely animals, stepping on flowers and looking for grass, peaceful and comfortable, which makes people sigh how nature has created such an exquisite and beautiful landscape painting.

Keketuohai No.3 Mine Pit

On the northeastern edge of the Junggar Basin in Xinjiang, the southern foot of the eastern end of the Altai Mountains, and the source of the Irtysh River, there is an area that has been classified as a highly classified area since the founding of the People's Republic of China - the Keketuo Sea. Hidden here is a mysterious pit that is closely related to the fate of the Republic - the Keketuohai No. 3 Mine. "Pit No. 3" is more than 100 meters deep, hundreds of meters long and wide, and there are 76 kinds of minerals symbiotic in the pit. It is very rare in foreign countries due to its large scale, many kinds of minerals, high grade, and distinct zonal formation. radioactive elements. Coketuohai has very rich deposits, of which the No. 3 vein is the most representative one. The No. 3 vein contains rare metals such as beryllium, lithium, tantalum, niobium, cesium, etc.; non-ferrous metals such as copper, nickel, lead, zinc, tungsten, manganese, bismuth, tin, etc.; ferrous metals, etc.; non-metallic minerals mica, feldspar, Quartz, barite, kyanite, limestone, coal, salt, alkali, etc.; gemstone mines include 86 kinds of minerals such as hylenite, violet, garnet, hibiscus, etc., accounting for 100% of the known useful minerals. It is about 60%, and various minerals are distributed in a very regular spiral band with very clear distribution boundaries. One of the surprises is that this is a straw hat-type mine, and there are still a lot of untapped resources around the mine.

Irtysh Grand Canyon

Irtysh Grand Canyon is the main area of the Koktokay Scenic Area. The canyon features an enchanting blend of mountains and water, with mountains, water, rocks, trees, and people harmoniously interacting. Peaks line both sides of the river, with vivid formations like Flying Peak, Camel Peak, Elephant Trunk Peak, and Eagle Peak, collectively known as the "One Hundred and Eight Peaks." Among the peaks, the Amir Sara Peak, with a relative height difference of 365 meters, is particularly breathtaking, offering a unique view with every step. The Irtysh River originates from the depths of the canyon, flowing westward, sometimes meandering gently, sometimes rushing continuously, with varying sounds and colors, rich in mineral elements, earning the name "Fertility River" known for miles. Cold springs and hot springs emerge together, with mysterious springs like Stomach Spring and Blood Pressure Spring, while the renowned "Beauty Bath" of Jilande Hot Spring captivates visitors.

No. 8 of Activities in Xinjiang

Skiing in Altay Prefecture

Powder Snow Adventures in Altay provide a premier skiing experience in a region with ancient skiing roots. Renowned for its consistent, dry powder and long season, resorts like Jiangjun Mountain offer diverse terrain for beginners and experts alike. The stunning backdrop of snow-capped peaks and pristine forests adds to the majestic atmosphere. This is more than a sport; it is an immersion into a vast, beautiful winter landscape, offering both thrilling descents and a profound sense of freedom in nature's grandeur.

Yileimu Lake

Altai Mountains

The Altai Mountains are on the windward side of the humid westerly air flow, and the wet and cold air flow in the southwest brings abundant rain and snow. The snow water flows southward along the slope and merges into two major water systems, the Irtysh River and the Ulungu River, which nourishes thousands of miles of grassland and becomes an important base for animal husbandry in Xinjiang. There are 420 glaciers in the Altai Mountains, with a total area of 293 square kilometers. The peaks and ridges above 4,000 meters above sea level are frozen all year round, but the flowers are blooming below the mountain, and the vertical distribution of vegetation and soil is very obvious. At the western foot of the Altai Mountains there is a lush temperate deciduous coniferous forest, mainly Siberian larch, accompanied by Siberian spruce, white birch, etc. Many rare birds and beasts haunt them. The famous Kanas, Burgen, Karamaili Mountain, Fuhai, Numerous nature reserves such as Quintas are hidden and mysterious. There are rock paintings left by ancient nomads more than 2000-3000 years ago on the rocks of this mountain range. This mountain range is therefore known as the "Aletai Mountains Qianli Petroglyph Promenade". The rock paintings of the Altai Mountains are masterpieces of art continuously supplemented by generations of nomads. They are divided into two types: rock carvings and color paintings. The content is mostly grazing, dancing, religious activities and images of domestic and wild animals. The rock paintings are more concentrated and the transportation is convenient. The "Yitas" rock art group is located in Chemulcek Township, about 25 kilometers southwest of Altay City. There is a rock art here with a length of 15.6 meters and a height of 2 meters, which is currently the largest in the Altai Mountains. In addition, the rock paintings of Querhai and Dolatgou located in the Mongolian Nationality Township of Khan Degat, about 30 kilometers south of Altay City, are also very distinctive, and their contents are mostly war, dance, grazing, tigers, wolves, Dogs, cows, horses, camels, deer and other animal images.

Keketuohai Birch Forest

There is a kind of fall known as the birch forests of Keketuohai Scenic District. When you arrive at the birch forests of Keketuohai Scenic District and look up, a brilliant, shimmering expanse of gold and yellow spreads out before your eyes. As you walk through the golden birch forest, the Irtysh River flows alongside you. The water is crystal clear, and sunlight filtering through the gaps in the trees creates shimmering ripples on the river's surface that dance with the swaying shadows of the trees.