Inner Mongolia 内蒙古 — The Vast Steppe
Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (内蒙古自治区) stretches across northern China like a long curved belt, covering 1.18 million square kilometers — China's third-largest provincial division. This is grassland country — endless seas of green (in summer) or gold (in autumn), dotted with sheep, horses, and white yurts (蒙古包). Inner Mongolia offers one of China's most distinctive travel experiences: the freedom of the open steppe, nomadic culture, and landscapes that range from desert to forest.
Hohhot 呼和浩特 — The Green City
Inner Mongolia's capital is a modern city with strong Mongolian cultural elements. The name means "Green City" in Mongolian.
Dazhao Temple 大召寺
Hohhot's oldest Tibetan Buddhist temple (built 1580), housing a famous silver Buddha statue. The temple complex features beautiful Mongolian-Tibetan architecture and is surrounded by a bustling old town area.
Admission: 35 RMB. Open: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM. Walkable from downtown Hohhot.
Inner Mongolia Museum 内蒙古博物院
Excellent museum showcasing nomadic culture, dinosaur fossils from the Gobi Desert (including massive sauropod skeletons), and the history of the Mongol Empire. The roof design resembles a galloping horse.
Free (ID required). Open: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (closed Mondays). Metro: Inner Mongolia Museum Station (Line 1).
Five-Pagoda Temple 五塔寺
A unique 18th-century temple with five pagodas on a single base, featuring rare Mongolian astronomical carvings on the walls.
Grasslands 草原
The grasslands are Inner Mongolia's biggest draw. Several areas near Hohhot and surrounding cities offer tourist facilities:
Huitengxile Grassland 辉腾锡勒草原
Rolling hills covered in wildflowers (in summer) with wind farms adding surreal modern elements. Known for its yellow-flowered meadows and wind turbines. About 130 km from Hohhot.
Yurt stay: 200-500 RMB/night (per yurt). Horse riding: 80-200 RMB/hour. Best time: June-August.
Xilamuren Grassland 希拉穆仁草原
The closest grassland to Hohhot (90 km). More commercialized but convenient for short trips. Traditional Mongolian performances, bonfire parties, and horse racing displays.
What to Expect on the Steppe
- Yurt Stay: Traditional felt yurts are surprisingly comfortable (wooden beds, heating). Modern tourist yurts have electricity and shared bathrooms.
- Activities: Horse riding, archery, wrestling displays, bonfire parties with singing and dancing.
- Food: Roasted lamb (烤全羊), milk tea (奶茶), cheese, dried curd (奶豆腐), airag (fermented mare's milk).
Ordos 鄂尔多斯 — From Ghost City to Cultural Hub
Ordos was once famous as China's "ghost city" — a brand-new district built for a million residents who hadn't arrived yet. Today it's populated and offers interesting cultural sites.
Genghis Khan Mausoleum 成吉思汗陵
A memorial complex (the actual burial site of Genghis Khan is unknown). The grand architecture and museum honor the founder of the Mongol Empire. Traditional Mongolian ceremonies are performed here regularly.
Admission: 90 RMB. Open: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM. Located in Ordos, 250 km from Hohhot. High-speed train available.
Kubuqi Desert 响沙湾 (Resonant Sand Bay)
Part of the Kubuqi Desert, this tourist area offers camel trekking, sandboarding, desert cable cars, and off-road vehicle rides. The dunes produce a "singing" sound when wind passes over them.
Admission: 130 RMB + activities. Open: 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM (summer). Near Baotou, 150 km from Hohhot.
Practical Information
Airports: Hohhot Baita (HET) has connections to Beijing (45 min), Shanghai, and other cities. Ordos Airport and Baotou Airport serve their regions.
High-speed trains: Beijing to Hohhot: 2.5 hours. Hohhot to Baotou/Ordos: 1.5-2 hours.
Best Time: June-August for green grasslands. September for golden autumn steppe. Winter is brutally cold (-20°C to -30°C) but offers ice festivals and snow-covered landscapes.
What to Bring: Sunscreen, hat, windbreaker (steppe winds are strong), insect repellent (summer). Warm layers year-round — temperature drops sharply at night.
Respect: Mongolian culture values hospitality. When entering a yurt, do not step on the threshold. Accept food and drink offered by your host.