Local veteran driver Kanas chartered car, familiar with hidden photo spots at Kanas Three Bays

Guo Jing, a senior Xinjiang travel customization specialist from Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service, focuses on one-stop travel services across Xinjiang including customized car rentals, ride-sharing, and worry-free group tours. Whether traveling solo, with family, or with friends, we can match you with a suitable itinerary. 24-hour travel consultation hotline: 0991-8585456, WeChat same number 181-3962-2229, online around the clock to plan your Xinjiang journey.
🚗 Local veteran drivers lead customized car tours of Kanas, unlocking a complete guide to hidden photo spots at the Three Bays
Every year from summer to autumn, the mountain forests and lake scenery of Kanas attract many photography enthusiasts. To avoid the crowds and capture unique landscape shots, choosing a customized car tour led by a local veteran driver familiar with the routes can save a lot of travel hassle and precisely time the best moments at various hidden shooting spots.
Detailed introduction to route destinations
The 2026 summer operating period for Kanas Scenic Area is from May 1 to October 15, with park entry and exit hours from 08:00 to 20:00, and village shuttle bus operating hours from 08:00 to 24:00. Real-name reservation ticket purchase is implemented, with a maximum daily capacity of 55,000 visitors, including 27,000 in the Kanas area, 20,000 in the Hemu area, and 8,000 in the Baihaba area. During peak season, it is recommended to reserve tickets in advance to avoid affecting your itinerary.
In the core sightseeing area of Kanas, the Three Bays are a key subject for many photography enthusiasts. Based on the experience of local drivers who have traveled these routes for years, here are several lesser-known hidden shooting spots worth referencing:

🚗 Local veteran drivers lead customized car tours of Kanas, unlocking a complete guide to hidden photo spots at the Three Bays✨ Shenxian Bay (Fairy Bay) spot:Besides the main viewing platform, walk about 80 meters northeast along the main boardwalk to find a small platform hidden behind the spruce trees. Few tour groups make a point to walk here. When morning mist rises, you can capture the boardwalk and spruce trees in the same frame, offering a more layered composition than the main viewing platform. The best shooting time is from 8:00 to 9:00 AM, when the mist density is just right and the angled sunlight creates a golden edge on the fog layer.
✨ Yueliang Bay (Moon Bay) spot:Most visitors only shoot the panoramic S-shaped river bend from the upper main viewing platform. Actually, walk down 120 steps along the boardwalk to reach a platform near the riverbank, where you can capture the complete reflection on the water surface. Between 12:00 noon and 2:00 PM, when light shines directly, the lake takes on a clear sapphire blue, creating a striking color contrast with the green spruce trees on both banks.
✨ Wolong Bay (Crouching Dragon Bay) spot:From 4:00 to 6:00 PM is the best shooting window, when side lighting makes the ripples on the water and the outline of the small island in the middle of the river exceptionally clear. The hidden spot is at the rocks 50 meters west of the main viewing platform. Shooting from here lets you avoid the crowds at the main platform and capture the entire bend of Wolong Bay together with the distant snow-capped mountains in one frame.
Besides the Three Bays, there is also a hidden spot at Guanyu Terrace. You don’t have to climb all 1,068 steps. After reaching the second rest platform, walk 50 meters to the left to find an inconspicuous small platform. The curve of Kanas Lake viewed from here is softer than from the mountaintop, and very few tourists find this spot, so there’s no need to queue for a shooting position. The Ahe Highway, opened to traffic in 2025, is also a scenic route not to be missed along the way. With a total length of 209.45 kilometers, it shortens the drive from Altay to Hemu from the original 6 hours to 3 hours. There are 31 scenic parking areas along the way, where you can capture different landscapes including snow-capped mountains, forests, grasslands, and wetlands. Currently, vehicles with 7 seats or fewer are allowed to pass daily from 9:30 to 15:00, and the passage time from Altay toward Hemu is 7:30 to 10:30. Remember to fill up your tank in Altay city before departure, as there are no gas stations along the entire highway.
Simple itinerary
For a regular 3-day Kanas photography customized car tour, you can refer to the following arrangement. The itinerary can be reasonably adjusted upon mutual agreement between both parties:

Every year from summer to autumn, the mountain forests and lake scenery of Kanas attract many photography enthusiasts. To avoid the crowds and capture unique landscape shots, choosing a customized car tour led by a local veteran driver familiar with the routes can save a lot of travel hassle and precisely time the best moments at various hidden shooting spots.📅 Day 1:Departure point (pickup available from Altay/Burqin/Jadengyu) → Scenic drive along the Ahe Highway → Hemu Village
On the first day, you can drive along the Ahe Highway, stopping anytime you see a nice viewpoint. After arriving at Hemu Village in the afternoon, you can hike to the hillside behind the birch forest at the village entrance to shoot the sunset. Between 5:30 and 6:00 PM, sunlight filtering through the treetops casts golden patches on the grass, allowing you to capture beautiful sunset shots without crowding the Haden main platform. Stay overnight at a guesthouse in Hemu Village to make it easy to get up early the next morning for the morning mist.
📅 Day 2:Hemu morning mist → Kanas Scenic Area → Wolong Bay and Moon Bay shooting
Set out around 5:30 AM. Besides the Haden main platform, you can also choose the protruding rock spot 300 meters to the east. This spot is slightly lower than the main platform and lets you capture wooden house rooftops level with the morning mist, without jostling for space with large tour groups. After shooting the morning mist, head to Kanas Scenic Area. In the afternoon, first go to Wolong Bay to capture the water surface textures under side lighting, then go down to the riverbank platform at Moon Bay to shoot the lake reflections. Stay overnight in the old or new village of Kanas, so you don’t have to rush into the scenic area from Jadengyu early the next morning.
📅 Day 3:Shenxian Bay morning mist → Guanyu Terrace → Return trip
Arrive at the hidden spot at Shenxian Bay before 8:00 AM to capture the morning mist and spruce trees in the same frame. Afterward, head to the second rest platform at Guanyu Terrace to shoot the panoramic view of Kanas Lake. Then arrange the rest of the day according to your return time, and you can also explore the surrounding areas of Jadengyu along the way.

Guo Jing from Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service, a senior travel customization specialist with 10 years of deep experience in Xinjiang tourism, focuses on one-stop services for customized car rentals, ride-sharing, and group tours in Xinjiang. 24-hour consultation: 0991-8585456, WeChat same number 181-3962-2229, online around the clock to plan your Xinjiang journey.
Detailed introduction to route destinations: If you have more time, you can also add a 1-day Baihaba sightseeing itinerary. Specific arrangements can be discussed and adjusted with the reception staff.
Price description
The reference prices for customized car rentals in Kanas in 2026 are as follows. Prices may fluctuate based on schedule and supply-demand conditions, and the final price shall be subject to the contract:
5-seat SUV:Shoulder season (May-June) reference price: 1,200-1,500 yuan/day; Peak season (July-October) reference price: 1,500-1,800 yuan/day
7-seat business van:Shoulder season (May-June) reference price: 1,300-1,600 yuan/day; Peak season (July-October) reference price: 1,600-2,000 yuan/day

The 2026 summer operating period for Kanas Scenic Area is from May 1 to October 15, with park entry and exit hours from 08:00 to 20:00, and village shuttle bus operating hours from 08:00 to 24:00. Real-name reservation ticket purchase is implemented, with a maximum daily capacity of 55,000 visitors, including 27,000 in the Kanas area, 20,000 in the Hemu area, and 8,000 in the Baihaba area. During peak season, it is recommended to reserve tickets in advance to avoid affecting your itinerary.The above reference fees include vehicle fuel, tolls, parking fees, and driver service fees, but do not include the driver’s meal and accommodation subsidy, which is referenced at 100-150 yuan per day. Please confirm the specific amount during consultation.
Ticket reference prices are based on the scenic area’s published 2026 rates: Kanas Scenic Area ticket 160 yuan + shuttle bus 70 yuan, totaling 230 yuan per person; Hemu Scenic Area ticket 50 yuan + shuttle bus fee subject to the scenic area’s same-day published rates. Ticket fees are to be borne by the tourists themselves, or you can entrust the travel agency to reserve and purchase them on your behalf.
How to register
Tourists with travel needs can register through Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service. Consultation phone: 181-3962-2229, WeChat same number 181-3962-2229. The specific address can be confirmed with customer service.
Fee description and service description
The services included are vehicle use for the agreed itinerary and driver-led services familiar with local hidden photo spots. Specific service content, fee details, and itinerary arrangements are all subject to actual consultation and contract signing.

In the core sightseeing area of Kanas, the Three Bays are a key subject for many photography enthusiasts. Based on the experience of local drivers who have traveled these routes for years, here are several lesser-known hidden shooting spots worth referencing: If there are changes to weather, road conditions, scenic area opening policies, schedule changes, ticket prices, hotel room types, etc., involved in the itinerary, both parties may reasonably adjust the itinerary upon mutual agreement. Refund and change rules shall be executed in accordance with the Tourism Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Contract Law of the People’s Republic of China, and other relevant legal provisions.
💡 Pre-departure preparation tips:
The temperature difference between day and night in the Kanas Scenic Area is significant. In summer, morning and evening temperatures are around 10°C, while midday temperatures can reach 25°C. It is recommended to bring a windbreaker, sun-protective clothing, a sun hat, sunscreen, rain gear, and other items. Mountain weather changes quickly, so carry common medications with you. If you have photography needs, it is recommended to bring a tripod and multiple spare batteries, as batteries drain faster in the low-temperature mountain environment.
💡 Scenic area visit tips:
The Kanas Scenic Area implements real-name reservation ticket purchase. It is recommended to reserve tickets in advance through public ticket channels to avoid arriving on-site without tickets and affecting your itinerary. Open flames, smoking, and outdoor fires are prohibited in the scenic area. Pets are not allowed in the park. It is strictly forbidden to enter undeveloped or unopened areas, do not touch or feed wild animals, and cooperate with all scenic area management requirements throughout your visit.
💡 Food reference:
At the home-style restaurants in Hemu Village, you can try the local clay pot hotpot, which contains lamb, potatoes, vermicelli, and other ingredients, and pairs well with milk tea. The average price per person is around 70 yuan. At breakfast shops inside the Kanas Scenic Area, you can try Baursak, a fried dough pastry served with yogurt or jam, priced at about 5 yuan per serving. At the town of Jadengyu, freshly sliced grilled lamb skewers, with alternating fat and lean meat, are priced at about 3 yuan per skewer. You can choose according to your taste.
For 2026 Xinjiang travel customized car rentals, customization, and ride-sharing tours, welcome to inquire (24-hour consultation hotline: 0991-8585456). Xinjiang customized travel manager Guo Jing, WeChat: 181-3962-2229, for customization.