Xinjiang: Baihaba Village, Sep 2025

By Beatrice Wong
October 13, 2025
7:30 pm
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This is my third photo trip to beautiful Xinjiang, China. I was in northern Xinjiang last June for the pasture transfer and then in southern Xinjiang last Oct for the desert poplars. This time I returned to northern Xinjiang for the autumn colors of Kanas Lake and Hemu Village. The beauty of northern Xinjiang in the fall is often compared to a fairy tale world. The colorful forests, blue skies, and snow-capped mountains make a beautiful painting. Kanas has been recognized by the Chinese National Geographic Magazine as having the most impressive autumn scenery. The best time is during the last week of September where the birch forests turn golden and there are frequent dreamy morning mists. I arrived in Urumuqi and started my journey north by car to the Altay region of Xinjiang.

Enroute to Altay region of Xinjiang

Enroute to Altay region of Xinjiang

Enroute to Altay region of Xinjiang

First stop is Baihaba Village 白哈巴, located on the natural border between China and Kazakhstan, also known as the “First Village of Northwest China”. It is named one of the “Eight Most Beautiful Towns in China” by National Georgraphic magazine in 2005. I needed to apply for a border pass to visit this area as it is only 3 km from the border of Kazakhstan. Nestled in the Altay Mountains and split by the Baihaba River, Baihaba is an ancient community of traditional wooden log houses inhabited by the Tuwa people, said to be descendants from the troops left behind by Genghis Khan. Reminiscent of an European village, most of the houses here have gabled roofs supported by wooden planks. In order to stay here and photograph the colorful autumn foliage, we stayed in one of the wooden houses. Thanks to the village’s remoteness, the primitivate environment as well as the unique traditions and customs have been preserved. The temperature here falls to below 0ºC in the autumn when the leaves turn golden creating a pastoral oil painting. Baihaba National Forest Park is located in Baihaba Village with scenic spots such as the stone tablet, the Zhongha Grand Canyon, and the beautiful birch forest. In the northwest of the village stands a stone tablet with the words “Baihaba” and No. 1 Village in the Northwest” written on it. There is a panoramic view of the quaint village and the large birch forest from this stone tablet. The scenery here at Baihaba Forest Park reminds me of Switzerland especially in the fall with trees of all shades of yellow and orange.