Kanas Lake has been awarded the title of "China's Top Scenic Spot" by the Asia-pacific Tourism organization or APTO, according to an announcement made Monday.

The Kanas Lake Scenic Area is located at the northern tip of Northwest China's Xinjiang Uigur Autonomous Region, close to Russia, Mongolia and Kazakhstan.

In recent years, the lake's rising fame has brought an increasing number of tourists to visit, with the total number reaching 300,000 last year.

The Kanasi Nature Reserve occupies an area of 2,200 square kilometers and features many types of natural habitats, including glaciers, forests, grassland, lakes and rivers. Since 2001, the Nature Reserve has been designated an "AAAA Scenic Area", "National Forest Park", and a "National Geopark."

(CRIENGLISH.com August 1, 2006)