Filming Locations of "My Altay" (Google Map): Rainbow Bulak, Batai Tree, Birch Forest and Baihaba Route

At the end of the grassy slope stood a tree, with a horse tethered beneath it, and distant snow-capped mountains and low-hanging clouds. Many viewers of "My Altay" assumed such scenes were scattered throughout Hemu, Kanas, and the entire Altay region. However, upon actually visiting northern Xinjiang, they discover that the most important pastures, forests, and small shops depicted in the series are primarily located in Habahe County.

“"Rainbow Bulak" has also undergone changes. After the film crew left, the local government preserved and recreated some of the sets, developing Jilin New Village in Qibal Town into a film and television theme park. Some of the shops, restaurants, and interactive scenes you see now are remnants from the filming, while others are experience projects recreated after the series became popular.

The core focus of watching the series should be on Habahe County, with at least two days allocated for that purpose.
Baihaba can be connected to the subsequent Kanas route, and Hemu is an extension of the same type of landscape.
If you only have three days, don't cram Habahe, Baihaba, Hemu, and Keketuohai all together.

What are the filming locations for "My Altay"?

Place	Relationship with TV series	Travel judgment	Recommended time
Rainbow Bulak, Jilin New Village	Core scenes such as Zhang Fengxia's convenience store, restaurant, and Ba Tai Tree, along with later replica experiences.	Main website for watching dramas	Half a day to the 1st
Habahe Birch Forest Scenic Area	The film crew shot on location here.	Suitable for connecting with county towns and wetlands	2 to 3 hours
Lower reaches of the Haba River and the area surrounding the Akqi Wetland	Rivers, forests, and the exterior of county life	Focus on the natural environment, not just a single camera position.	2 to 3 hours
Baihaba and Yegende Grassland Area	Closely related to scenes such as Bata Ranch and Lonely Tree	Accessible via Kanas route; traffic rules to be found elsewhere.	More than 1 day
Hemu Village	Often included in the "same Altay" route, reliable sources do not list it as a core filming location.	As Tuva villages extend into the valley	1 day and 1 night

Altay is vast. The locations in the table belong to different counties and scenic areas. They may look close on the map, but actual travel often takes half a day. When planning, you should first select "binge-watching" or "Northern Xinjiang Loop" before deciding whether to include Kanas and Hemu.

Rainbow Bulak: The village where the small shop was located is now a theme park.

Rainbow Bulak, located in Jilin New Village, Qibar Town, Habahe County, is the most clearly defined and recognizable filming location for the documentary series "My Altay." According to records from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region government, the area has developed experiential spaces around more than ten locations, including the "Batai Tree," featuring attractions such as Zhang Fengxia's convenience store, the "Hao De Hen La Tiaozi" restaurant, and Kazakh intangible cultural heritage activities. In August 2025, the expanded Rainbow Bulak scenic area officially opened to the public, further increasing the proportion of scene recreations and folk performances.

This also explains the possible differences between the actual scene and the stills. The wooden signs, interior furnishings, number of yurts, and performance times will be adjusted according to the operation, so what you see cannot be taken as the original set left by the crew in 2023. A better way to visit is to first see the shops and the Batai tree, and then leave time for the grassy slopes, valleys, horseback riding activities, and local life demonstrations.

 When taking photos on the ranch, please follow the instructions of the fence and staff. The pasture has designated users, and vehicles must not leave the road to get closer to trees or horses. 

The Batai Tree and the "Lonely Tree": There may be more than one photo spot with the same name.

The tree where Ba Tai stopped to ride his horse became the most memorable scene in the entire series due to its connection to the plot and characters. After the series became popular, "Ba Tai Tree" and "The Lonely Tree" and other similar photo spots were gradually restored or added along the Haba River and surrounding areas. Official reports also mentioned that about twenty themed scenes were launched locally.

Therefore, finding a location with the same name through navigation does not mean that every tree is the original filming location. The location of the trees on the grassy slopes is affected by the season, grazing, and road conditions, and some areas may also have different opening hours. Before setting off, you should confirm the reachable locations with the Rainbow Bulak Scenic Area or your local accommodation, and not rely on old locations from short videos.

The character "Sayhanbulak" in the drama contains fictional elements. Director Teng Congcong explained in an interview that there is indeed a place with the same name in reality.However, the series was filmed primarily in Habahe County.The Narenxia Pasture in the story is also based on a real place name. The pasture space that the audience sees is a combination of the creative setting and multiple real locations in Altay.

Birch Forest and Haba River: Less elaborate sets, closer to the natural backdrop of the drama.

Before the premiere of "My Altay," the Habahe County government had already documented the filming locations of the crew, including Habahe, the Birch Forest Scenic Area, and Jilin New Village. The highlight of the Birch Forest is not any particular prop, but rather the valley, the light under the trees, and the changing colors of the leaves with the seasons.

Late spring to summer is ideal for viewing grasslands and new leaves, while early autumn offers a better chance to encounter golden forest belts. Specific phenological events vary annually; temperature drops, strong winds, or continuous rainfall can alter the colors and road conditions. The Akqi Wetland and the lower reaches of the Haba River near the county town can be easily explored in a half-day trip; there's no need to venture into unopened areas in search of blurry screenshots from the drama.

The Ashele mining area has appeared on the official list of filming locations, but as a production area, it should not be treated as a regular tourist attraction. When there are no formal tour arrangements, simply stay in the open wetlands, birch forests, and Rainbow Brak.

Baihaba and Hemu: one continues the story, the other continues the scenery.

Baihaba is located within the Kanas tourist area. Its wooden houses, birch forests, pastures, and snow-capped mountains closely resemble the atmosphere of the TV series. The Yegende Grassland area has also been included in numerous reports as a filming and themed route. If you're already planning to go to Kanas, Baihaba is a suitable next stop after Habahe.

Baihaba involves border area management, and the procedures for purchasing tickets, vehicle entry, and obtaining permits may be adjusted. Private vehicles may not be able to directly enter the village; please refer to announcements from the Kanas Scenic Area and local public security and traffic authorities before your trip.

Hemu frequently appears in travel packages related to the TV series "My Altay," primarily because its wooden village, river valley, and Tuva culture perpetuate viewers' imaginations of life in northern Xinjiang. Reliable sources do not list Hemu as a core filming location for the series. Naming it simply "the location of the convenience store in the show" would be misleading; however, offering it as a one-night experience in a northern Xinjiang village has its own unique travel value. For a deeper understanding of Hemu and its local community, you can refer to the travel guide compiled by Da Wan Jia (a travel website/organization).Hemu Village and the Tuva People of Xinjiang.

Three-day, two-night binge-watching route

On the first day, we arrived in Habahe County and rested in the county town before walking through the Akqi Wetland or along the Habahe River.

The second day was dedicated to Rainbow Brak, avoiding the rush of sightseeing.

On the third day, head to the birch forest scenic area, and return to the county town or transfer to Burqin in the afternoon.

If you plan to continue to Baihaba, Kanas, and Hemu, you should add three to four more days. The journey from Habahe to Kanas scenic area involves long-distance roads, transfers within the scenic area, and long queues during peak season. Trying to cram all three villages into one day will leave you with little more than getting on and off the bus.

 With only two days available, the itinerary includes Rainbow Bulak, the birch forest, and the area surrounding Habahe County. Baihaba and Hemu will be left for the next leg of the journey. 

Four things to confirm before departure

The colors of the grasslands, snow cover, and foliage are all affected by the weather of the year, and the green pastures depicted in the drama cannot be replicated year-round. Before setting off, you should confirm the operating hours of Rainbow Bulak, the accessible areas of the pasture, the necessary permits for traveling to Baihaba, and the road conditions from Habahe to Kanas.

Due to the long travel distances in the area, cell phone signal strength and supply availability will decrease. If you lack experience driving long distances in Northern Xinjiang, hiring a car or joining a small group is safer than renting a vehicle on the spot. For trips combining Kanas, Baihaba, and Hemu, check out the guides on larger travel platforms.Kanas Scenic Area IntroductionThen decide on accommodation and transfer order.

The allure of "My Altay" extends beyond just a tree or a small shop. The people depicted on screen have to move, herd livestock, cross rivers, and contend with weather and distance. Only by spending an extra day in Habahe can one truly see the real life of Altay, transforming from a television set into a tangible reality.

Reference source

• The People's Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region: From "My Altay" to "Our Altay"“
• Xinhua News Agency: "My Altay, Your Haba River"“
• Xinhua News Agency Xinjiang Channel: Filming of "My Altay" in Habahe
• Tianshan Net/Xinjiang Daily: Rainbow Bulak Scenic Area Officially Opens to Visitors
• CCTV.com: Scene Recreation and Scenic Area Construction of Rainbow Brak
• Southern Network: Director Teng Congcong talks about Sayihanbulak, Naren, and the filming location.
• National Forestry and Grassland Administration: Xinjiang Altay Thousand-Mile Gallery Ecotourism Route

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