THE PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY
Go beyond the view
Photograph autumn forests, mountains, lakes and pastoral life in Altay and northern Xinjiang. Livestock migration activities depend on the season and local arrangements; foliage, weather and photography conditions vary by location.
Kanas Lake and its bays
Photograph layers of water, autumn woodland and valleys around Kanas Lake, Fish-Watching Pavilion, Fairy Bay, Moon Bay and Wolong Bay.
Baihaba and Hemu
Explore Baihaba, Hemu, birch forests and scenery around Meili Peak for autumn village and landscape photography.
Autumn roads of northern Xinjiang
Follow Tiejia Road and Ahe Road between villages and valleys, with photography stops arranged according to conditions.
The journey in pictures
Photographers linked to this route: Mingwei Ou →
Itinerary images · Select a photo to enlarge
PHOTOGRAPHY LEADERS
A different way of seeing
Mingwei Ou
Specializes in landscape, night-sky, macro and computational photography using Planit. He has taught introductory photography classes on multiple occasions for an extracurricular club at the Foreign Languages Middle School affiliated with Shenzhen University.
THE DAYS AHEAD
A rhythm shaped by light
DAY 01Sep 21 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiDay 1: Arrive in Altay
From your departure city–Pickup at Altay Airport–Altay hotel
Accommodation:Four-star hotel in Altay
DAY 02Sep 22 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiDay 2: Altay–Burqin
Altay–Overnight in Burqin
Accommodation:Four-star hotel in Burqin
DAY 03Sep 23 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiDay 3: Kanas Airport–Baihaba
Kanas Airport–Baihaba
Accommodation:Hotel inside Baihaba Scenic Area
DAY 04Sep 24 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiDay 4: Baihaba–Tiejia Road–Jiadengyu
Baihaba–The Lone Tree–Tiejia Highway–Jiadengyu
Accommodation:Four-star hotel in Jiadengyu
DAY 05Sep 25 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiDay 5: Jiadengyu–Kanas Lake–Fish-Watching Pavilion
Jiadengyu–Kanas–Kanas Lake–Fish-Watching Pavilion–Overnight in Kanas
Accommodation:Four-star hotel at Kanas Lake
DAY 06Sep 26 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiDay 6: Kanas bays–Bulalehan Bridge–Jiadengyu
Kanas–Fairy Bay–Moon Bay–Crouching Dragon Bay–Bulalehan Bridge–Overnight in Jiadengyu (Rezen Retreat · Xiyu, Kanas Scenic Area branch)
Accommodation:Jiadengyu; planned stay at Rezen Retreat Xiyu Kanas Scenic Area, final hotel awaiting operator confirmation
DAY 07Sep 27 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiDay 7: Jiadengyu–Hemu–birch forest–Meili Peak
Jiadengyu–Hemu–Birch Forest–Meili Peak–Overnight in Hemu
Accommodation:Hotel inside Hemu Scenic Area
DAY 08Sep 28 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiDay 8: Hemu–Ahe Road–Altay
Hemu–Ahe Highway–Overnight in Altay
Accommodation:Four-star hotel in Altay
DAY 09Sep 29 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiDay 9: Depart Altay
Altay Airport–Your destination–End of trip
Trip staff
- Photography leader · Mingwei Ou
- Up to 5 travelers
- IncludedLocal services: photography instruction from a local instructor;
Transport
- IncludedTransport: three participants per off-road vehicle;
- ExcludedLong-distance round-trip transportation between your departure city and the destination;
Travel details and reference schedules
The instructor's outbound and return flights are: Outbound: September 21 | Shenzhen–Xi’an | CZ3213 / 08:00 / 10:45 September 21 | Xi’an–Altay | MU2377 / 17:15 / 20:45 Return: September 29 | Altay–Xi’an | MU6246 / 14:15 / 17:35 September 29 | Xi’an–Shenzhen | CZ3226 / 20:45 / 23:45 Before booking transport, please confirm the departure and travel arrangements through this website. These services are for reference and do not constitute confirmed group transport. Final services and meeting times await operator confirmation. Included · Transport: three participants per off-road vehicle; Included · Admission: itinerary admission tickets and shuttle buses (drive in wherever allowed; where self-drive tickets require competitive booking, we will try to obtain them and use shuttle buses if unsuccessful); Excluded · Long-distance round-trip transportation between your departure city and the destination;
Photography
- Kanas Lake and its bays
- Baihaba and Hemu
- Autumn roads of northern Xinjiang
Photography details
Kanas Lake and its bays Photograph layers of water, autumn woodland and valleys around Kanas Lake, Fish-Watching Pavilion, Fairy Bay, Moon Bay and Wolong Bay. Baihaba and Hemu Explore Baihaba, Hemu, birch forests and scenery around Meili Peak for autumn village and landscape photography. Autumn roads of northern Xinjiang Follow Tiejia Road and Ahe Road between villages and valleys, with photography stops arranged according to conditions. Kanas Lake and its bays Baihaba and Hemu Autumn roads of northern Xinjiang Included · Local services: photography instruction from a local instructor; Included · Tour leadership: photography course fees for the accompanying instructor.
Accommodation
- 8 nights
- IncludedHotels: four-star hotels in almost every location (except inside scenic areas);
- ExcludedA single supplement applies if a roommate is unavailable or a private room is requested. The amount awaits operator confirmation.
Accommodation details
Day 1: Four-star hotel in Altay Day 2: Four-star hotel in Burqin Day 3: Hotel inside Baihaba Scenic Area Day 4: Four-star hotel in Jiadengyu Day 5: Four-star hotel at Kanas Lake Day 6: Jiadengyu; planned stay at Rezen Retreat Xiyu Kanas Scenic Area, final hotel awaiting operator confirmation Day 7: Hotel inside Hemu Scenic Area Day 8: Four-star hotel in Altay Hotels and final stay arrangements await operator confirmation. Day 1 · 2026-09-21 Four-star hotel in Altay Day 2 · 2026-09-22 Four-star hotel in Burqin Day 3 · 2026-09-23 Hotel inside Baihaba Scenic Area Day 4 · 2026-09-24 Four-star hotel in Jiadengyu Day 5 · 2026-09-25 Four-star hotel at Kanas Lake Day 6 · 2026-09-26 Jiadengyu; planned stay at Rezen Retreat Xiyu Kanas Scenic Area, final hotel awaiting operator confirmation Day 7 · 2026-09-27 Hotel inside Hemu Scenic Area Day 8 · 2026-09-28 Four-star hotel in Altay
Meals
- IncludedMeals: meal expenses throughout;
Visa
- To be confirmed by the operator
A CLEAR PICTURE
Know what is included
Deposit in the operator’s published information
per personThis amount reflects the payment terms in the operator’s published information. When booking through this platform, follow the payment schedule shown at checkout.
Public prices may change. Checkout quotes expire at a stated time; your confirmed order records its price and payment deadlines.
Included
Hotels: four-star hotels in almost every location (except inside scenic areas);
Meals: meal expenses throughout;
Transport: three participants per off-road vehicle;
Admission: itinerary admission tickets and shuttle buses (drive in wherever allowed; where self-drive tickets require competitive booking, we will try to obtain them and use shuttle buses if unsuccessful);
Local services: photography instruction from a local instructor;
Tour leadership: photography course fees for the accompanying instructor.
Complimentary travel accident insurance;
Not included
Long-distance round-trip transportation between your departure city and the destination;
A single supplement applies if a roommate is unavailable or a private room is requested. The amount awaits operator confirmation.
In exceptional circumstances involving force majeure, such as natural disasters, war, strikes, airline delays or cancellations, or consular visa delays, the organizing team reserves the right to cancel or alter the itinerary. Additional expenses, including visa extensions abroad, accommodation, meals, transport, or adjustments to national air travel charges, may be charged based on the actual additional expenditure incurred. We will nevertheless do everything within our ability to minimise participants' losses;
Invoice taxes.
Single-room supplements, additional local expenses and the final total must be confirmed in writing.
BEFORE YOU GO
What to know before you go
Availability and booking
Let us know if you’re interested in this trip. Availability is not updated in real time, so please contact us to check whether the trip is confirmed, how many places are available, and the final total and booking terms.
Trip information
[Transport] 1. Flights arranged by the organizing team use economy-class group tickets. Before tickets are issued, check the airline's rules for changes and refunds. 2. Flight, road and boat journey times may vary with conditions on the day. 3. The airlines and flight times listed are for guidance only. Flight changes may require minor adjustments to the itinerary. Please follow the final trip details sent before departure. [Accommodation] The total is based on two people sharing a room. We'll try to match solo travelers with a roommate of the same gender. If you prefer not to share, or no roommate is available, you must pay a single supplement for your own room. [Group meals] We aim to serve meals suited to Chinese tastes. We make sure everyone has enough to eat. [Photography] 1. Photography sessions follow the itinerary, but conditions on the day may affect how long we spend at each location. 2. Read the itinerary carefully and choose a trip that suits your health and circumstances. Skipping part of the itinerary for health or other personal reasons, or choosing not to use the arranged accommodation or transport, counts as voluntary withdrawal from those arrangements. You are responsible for your own safety while not taking part in the itinerary. 3. Stay with the group during photography sessions unless you have permission to leave. This does not apply during free time. The organizing team is not responsible for accidents that occur while you are away from the group. 4. Typhoons, blizzards or other events beyond our control may require changes to the itinerary. [Fuel surcharges] The organizing team reserves the right to adjust the amount payable if fluctuations in global oil markets lead to a substantial rise in fuel surcharges. If the team can absorb the increase, the amount payable will remain unchanged. [Before departure] 1. We'll send your final trip details no later than the day before departure. If arrangements are confirmed sooner, we'll let you know as soon as possible. 2. If the online itinerary differs from the final trip details sent before departure, the final trip details take precedence. [Optional activities at your own expense] Under the Tourism Law provisions prohibiting travel agencies from arranging optional paid activities, please contact the provider directly for details, charges and bookings if you wish to take part. If you need language assistance from a guide or tour leader, any help is provided in a personal capacity, whether paid or unpaid. It is not provided on behalf of the organizing team or the local tour operator. The organizing team is not involved in the payments, transactions or service standards for activities during free time. You are responsible for the outcome of those arrangements.
Itinerary notes
Photography locations, accommodations and transportation are subject to final confirmation before departure. Weather and local conditions may affect the itinerary.
Photography may be adjusted for weather and transport conditions. The day 3 connection from Burqin to Kanas Airport awaits operator confirmation.
Itinerary dates use Beijing time (Asia/Shanghai). Flight, transfer and other times follow the time zone stated for each location. Please confirm any time without a stated time zone before departure.