# Altun Shan, China: what it is and when to go > Altun Shan is a mountain in the Altyn-Tagh range, China; highest point of Gansu (阿尔金山), at 5,798 m above sea level. Interests: Nature and Mountains. The best time to visit is September, a short season because of the altitude. In June there are 14 h 45 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 15. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip. - Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/altun-shan/ - Reviewed on: 2026-10-08 - Language: en ## In a nutshell - **What it is:** Mountain in the Altyn-Tagh range, China; highest point of Gansu · Nature, Mountains - **Local name:** 阿尔金山 - **Where:** China - **Elevation:** 5,798 m - **Best time:** September. - **Nearest airport:** CTU Chengdu (Shuangliu), 1,346 km as the crow flies - **Prominence:** 2520 m - **Coordinates:** 39.25101, 93.69702 ## What it is and where Altun Shan is a mountain in the Altyn-Tagh range, China; highest point of Gansu (阿尔金山), at 5,798 m above sea level. Its coordinates are 39.25101, 93.69702; the nearest main airport is Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU, Chengdu (Shuangliu)), 1,346 km as the crow flies. How to get around China (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/#moverse). - [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=39.251013%2C93.697019) - [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=39.251013%2C93.697019) - **Prominence:** 2520 m It is one of the [Nature](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/naturaleza/) and [Mountains](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/montana/) places in China. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap. ## When to go The best time to visit Altun Shan is **September**, and the season is short because it sits at 5,798 m: above 1,800 m there is snow until June and it returns in October. | Mes | Época | Hours of daylight | | --- | --- | --- | | January | Better not | 9 h 32 | | February | Better not | 10 h 31 | | March | Better not | 11 h 42 | | April | Better not | 13 h 02 | | May | Better not | 14 h 09 | | June | Possible | 14 h 45 | | July | Possible | 14 h 30 | | August | Possible | 13 h 32 | | September | Best time | 12 h 14 | | October | Possible | 10 h 56 | | November | Better not | 9 h 48 | | December | Better not | 9 h 15 | In June there are 14 h 45 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 15. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather. | What you come for | Best time | Possible | | --- | --- | --- | | Nature | September | June to August and October | | Mountains | September | June to August and October | It is not the same trip whatever you come for: Altun Shan has a different season depending on what you want to do here, and [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) puts it in the right month for you. When to go to China in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/#cuando-ir). ## Before you go to China To enter China there are 9 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Passport valid for six months”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the China checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Yuan or renminbi (CNY); plugs: Type A, C and I · 220 V · 50 Hz (you need an adapter); emergencies: 110 police · 120 ambulance · 119 fire brigade. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it. ## What is nearby - [Xiao Sugan Hu Nature Reserve](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/xiao-sugan-hu-nature-reserve/): Protected area · 54 km - [Core dark-sky protection area of Lenghu Astronomical Observing Base](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/core-dark-sky-protection-area-of-lenghu-astronomical-observi/): Protected area · 72 km - [Wide Field Survey Telescope](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/wide-field-survey-telescope/): Observatory · 74 km - [Saishiteng Astronomical Observing Base, Area C](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/saishiteng-astronomical-observing-base-area-c/): Observatory · 74 km - [50cm Astronomical Binocular Telescope (50BiN)](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/50cm-astronomical-binocular-telescope-50bin/): Observatory · 74 km Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the China guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/). ## More in China: Nature - [Mount Everest](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/monte-everest/): Earth's highest mountain above sea level, located in the Mahalangur Himal sub-range of the Himalayas - [K2](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/k2/): 2nd-highest mountain on Earth - [Terracotta Army](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/guerreros-de-terracota/): collection of ancient Chinese military statues - [Makalu](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/mount-makalu/): mountain in Nepal/China; 5th highest in the world - [Lhotse](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/lhotse/): mountain in Nepal - [Mount Kailash](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/kailash/): mountain in Tibet, China Every China place under Nature, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/naturaleza/). ## Frequently asked questions ### What is Altun Shan? It is a mountain in the Altyn-Tagh range, China; highest point of Gansu (阿尔金山 in the local language). ### When is the best time to visit Altun Shan? September, and it is worth checking carefully: at 5,798 m the season is shorter than lower down. In June there are 14 h 45 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 15. ### How do you get to Altun Shan? The nearest main airport is Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU), 1,346 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=39.251013%2C93.697019) opens the route on the map, and how to get around China is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/#moverse). ### How do I add it to my trip? With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the China map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby. ### What else is around here? Nearby you have [Xiao Sugan Hu Nature Reserve](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/xiao-sugan-hu-nature-reserve/), [Core dark-sky protection area of Lenghu Astronomical Observing Base](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/core-dark-sky-protection-area-of-lenghu-astronomical-observi/), [Wide Field Survey Telescope](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/wide-field-survey-telescope/). The rest is in [the China guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/). Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/6040549367), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q28541951), CC0. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).