In summer, Hulunbuir Grassland.
A green sea of grass stretches endlessly, under blue sky and white clouds, cattle and sheep in herds, horses galloping. In the distance, yurts are scattered like white pearls on the grassland. A breeze blows, grass waves rolling, floral fragrance wafting.
This is China’s most beautiful grassland.
Inner Mongolia is a place that opens your heart.
Province Profile#
- Location: Northern China, spanning Northeast, North China, and Northwest
- Best Travel Season: June-September (grasslands), September-October (poplar forests)
- Highlights: Grassland scenery, Mongolian culture, desert wonders, border scenery
Must-Visit Attractions#
Hulunbuir Grassland: China’s Most Beautiful Grassland#
Hulunbuir Grassland is one of the world’s four great grasslands, covering 100,000 square kilometers.
Morigele River winds across the grassland like a silver ribbon. Ergun Wetland is Asia’s largest wetland, with forests turning colorful in autumn—breathtakingly beautiful. Birch Forest Scenic Area has dense birch groves, golden yellow in autumn.
Best Experience: Stay overnight in a yurt, watch the starry sky at night, see grassland sunrise in the morning. Ride horses across the grassland, feel the magnificence of “Vast sky and wild plains.”
Xiangshawan: The Singing Sand Desert#
Xiangshawan is China’s largest desert tourism resort, named because the sand “sings.”
Sliding down from the dunes, the sand makes a “buzzing” sound, like an airplane passing by. Here you can ride camels, sand slide, drive off-road vehicles—experience the thrill of the desert.
Best Experience: Climb the dunes at dusk, watch the desert sunset. Stay overnight in a desert hotel, watch the starry sky.
Ejina Poplar Forest: Three Thousand Years of Watch#
Ejina Poplar Forest is one of the world’s three great poplar forests, “Alive for a thousand years without dying, dead for a thousand years without falling, fallen for a thousand years without rotting.”
Every October, poplar leaves turn golden yellow, the entire forest like burning flames. Erdao Bridge, Sidao Bridge, and Qidao Bridge are the best viewing spots—each place breathtakingly beautiful.
Best Experience: Come to Ejina in mid-October, stay for a few days, watch sunrise and sunset, photograph the most beautiful poplar forests.
Manzhouli: Exotic Charm of a Border City#
Manzhouli is China’s largest land port, bordering Russia.
Matryoshka Square has the world’s largest matryoshka doll, 30 meters high, colorful and brilliant. National Gate Scenic Area offers close-up views of the Russian town of Zabaykalsk. China-Russia Mutual Trade Zone sells Russian goods.
Best Experience: Wander Manzhouli streets at night, see the lights of Russian-style buildings, feel the exotic charm of this border city.
Special Experiences#
Arxan#
Arxan is a small city on the China-Mongolia border, with volcanoes, hot springs, forests, and lakes.
Heavenly Lake is a crater lake, with clear water reflecting blue sky and white clouds. Azalea Lake is beautiful when azaleas bloom in spring. Santan Gorge is a canyon formed by volcanic lava, with strange rocks standing.
Mongolian Culture#
Come to Inner Mongolia, you must experience Mongolian culture.
Nadam Fair is the Mongolian traditional festival, with horse racing, wrestling, and archery—extremely lively. Yurts are traditional Mongolian dwellings—stay inside to feel the nomadic lifestyle. Hand-held Meat, Milk Tea, and Milk Tofu are Mongolian delicacies—must try.
Juyanhai#
Juyanhai is a lake in the desert, the artistic conception of “Lonely smoke rises straight in the vast desert, the setting sun rounds the long river.”
In the early morning, thin mist drifts on the lake surface, swans and wild ducks playing in the water. At sunrise, golden sunlight spills on the lake—beautiful as a painting.
Travel Tips#
- Transportation: Hohhot is Inner Mongolia’s transportation hub, with airport and high-speed rail. Hulunbuir and Manzhouli both have airports. Inner Mongolia is vast—recommend self-driving or chartering cars.
- Accommodation: On grasslands, stay in yurts; in deserts, stay in Xiangshawan hotels; in Ejina, book in advance—rooms are hard to find during peak season.
- Note: Large temperature difference between day and night in Inner Mongolia—even in summer, bring a jacket. Many mosquitoes on grasslands—bring insect repellent. Ejina poplar forest is only beautiful in October—plan ahead.
Inner Mongolia’s vastness opens your heart.
Galloping on horseback across grasslands, watching sunrise and sunset in deserts, feeling three thousand years of watch in poplar forests… this northern frontier land always has scenery that amazes you.
Come to Inner Mongolia and feel the vastness of heaven and earth.
Tomorrow, we begin our Northwest journey, starting with Shaanxi to see the shock of Terracotta Warriors and the ancient charm of Xi’an.