The Best of Xinjiang---Hiking in Golden Altay

In September 2012, I decided taking a vocational semester and going back to China to travel around. The first destination that I chose was Altay, which is located in northern Xinjiang, China. In Altay, there is a really famous hiking trail, which was the reason I went there. Bascally, that hiking trail is to walk along the Altai Mountains, which connected Russia, China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan. My guide book said that "you can see the greatest scenery and meet most hospitable Kazakhs in the fall of Altay". I took a 4-day hiking with two backpackers who I met on the train to Xinjiang and we became really good friends later. I regarded those days in Altay were one of my best time in my life.

Next, I am going to show you what I saw and how I felt in Altay!

Day 1- Jia Dengyu to Halfway Lodge

Hiking begins! Kazakhs' yurts

 Shocked by the scenery

Lovely camel

First day, we started from Jia Dengyu heading to the halfway lodge, which should be a 6-hour hiking. In fact, my friends and I spent more than 8 hours to arrive the lodge, for the reason that we have taken too many pictures on the way and rested too much. Well, it was our first day and everyone should get used to carry a 70L backpack.







The left picture, it was the first time we were shocked by the scenery. Green spruces，golden birches and turquoise creek drive you "crazy". I cannot believe what I saw, which is just like a colorful masterpiece.



The destination of first day, it was a small lodge, whose household is a Kazakh, named Jia Naer. He was really nice to the backpackers like us. He told us " if you want to feel the beauty of Altai Mountains, you would better use your feet".



In the following days, I begun to understand what Jia Naer meaned ...