At the tip of China's westernmost region of Xinjiang lies the Kanas nature reserve, near the point where the national border meets Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Russia. Known for its breathtaking vistas of grassland, snow-capped mountains and one of the country's deepest alpine lakes, Kanas has also been called "god's backyard". But saddle up and sit in, because the best of Kanas is seen on horseback. For four full days, I was part of a group of 23 lucky riders from home and abroad who experienced heavenly Xinjiang. This is how we did it.
Getting there
We first met at the Maitian International Youth Hostel in Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. The hostel is a well-known pit stop for foreign and local travelers off the beaten track.
