Altay is situated in the north of Xinjiang and southern foot of the Altai Mountains. It borders Mongolia in the east, Kazakhstan and Russia in the west and north. In southwest, taking Uygur Mountain ridge of boundary, it connects Tacheng Prefecture by prairie in the southern bank of Ulungur Lake (乌伦古湖). Its south lies in Gurbantunggut Desert (古尔班通古特沙漠). In north, it borders Changji Prefecture.
With an 402-kilometer width from west to east and an 464-kilometer length from north to south, Altay has an area of 171,000 square kilometers, accounting for 7% of the total area in Xinjiang. There are 36 ethnic groups in Altay, such as the Kazak, Han, Hui, Uygur, Mongolia, etc.during which the Kazak account dor 56% of the total population. In December 2017, it was elected as "China Top Ten Ice and Snow Tourist City".
Highlight
- Charming Altay Autumn: In early autumn, Altay seems to be a oil painting embedded in the golden frame. The period of late September to early October, Altay embraces golden color and sunshine, and under the background of blue sky, white snow, the gold highlights much more markedly. Recommended places to enjoy autumn scenery: Kanas, the Colorful Beach (五彩滩), Hemu, birth forests, Koktokay, Eerqisi River, etc.
- Astounding Mornings: The morning here mainly refers to the one in Tuva villages which are covered by fog so that you could feel it like a fairyland. There are only three Tuve villages in China and they all all gathering in Altay Prefecture, namely Hemu Village, Kanas Village, and Baihaba Village. With fog lingering around, sunshine dropped and rolling smoke rising from the chimney, villages of Tuva people in morning are quite wonderful and unique.
- Kanas Lake: It is a national 5A-level scenic spot and is named as the most beautiful lake in China. With the snow-capped mountains and gorgeous forests around, it enjoy s overwhelming charms and is named as “a fairyland on the earth, the garden of God”.