Summer, the season that belongs to the grasslands. The wind from all directions blows and turns vast expanses of grass into a lush green, creating an emerald ocean that stretches to the horizon. It’s an endless view of vastness and freedom!
When it comes to the most beautiful grasslands in China, Inner Mongolia is undoubtedly a must-mention.
With its boundless sky and wilderness, where the wind sways the grass and reveals herds of cattle and sheep, Inner Mongolia can fulfill everyone’s dreams and fantasies about the grasslands.
Here, you’ll find the most extensive grasslands and the most liberating roads.
Under the clear blue sky with floating white clouds, the uninhabited roads extend through the endless fields. You can feel the breeze, listen to music, and freely drive along the way.
As the sun sets, herds of cattle and sheep slowly return home, while the melodious sound of the horsehead fiddle spreads through the fresh air. Stay in a local Mongolian yurt, ride with the herdsmen on the grasslands, and all your worries will disappear.
Many people have the impression that Inner Mongolia only has grasslands, but its diversity will surpass your imagination.
It is home to China’s largest forest, the Greater Khingan Range, where towering trees block out the sky, and lively reindeer roam among them, as if you’ve stepped into a Nordic fairy tale.
It also boasts China’s largest wetland, the Gen River Source National Wetland, where meandering rivers quietly flow through the vast grasslands, horses gallop, and migratory birds fly together, everywhere nurturing vitality.
Moreover, there are massive volcanoes and crater lakes in Arxan, where undulating mountains resemble waves of green, and the lakes are like mirrors scattered among the mountains, shimmering and crystal-clear.
Grasslands, forests, wetlands, lakes, deserts… The land of Inner Mongolia is far more extensive than we can imagine!
You must visit Inner Mongolia in the summer to experience the most expansive freedom.
It takes about 2.5 hours to fly directly from Shanghai to Inner Mongolia and around 1.5 hours from Beijing.
So, how should you plan your first trip to Inner Mongolia? Today, we bring you an in-depth guide to Inner Mongolia!
When to visit Inner Mongolia?
In the midsummer of July and August, the grasslands of Inner Mongolia are at their most beautiful. With rolling clouds and lush green grass, you can freely run or lie down on the grasslands.
In the golden autumn of September and October, Inner Mongolia will present a splendid view of the forests’ changing colors. It’s suitable for visiting the Greater Khingan Range to see the colorful forest and the Ejina Banner to admire the golden poplar trees.
How to explore Inner Mongolia?
Inner Mongolia is probably the “longest” province, autonomous region, or municipality in China, spanning over 2,400 kilometers from east to west. It can generally be divided into Western Mongolia (Ordos, Baotou, Alxa), Central Mongolia (Hohhot, Xilingol, Ulanqab), and Eastern Mongolia (Hulunbuir, Hinggan League, Tongliao).
This summer, follow us to Inner Mongolia!
Go and touch the free wind on the grasslands, wait for the stunning sunset over the wetlands, quietly observe the water birds preening on the lake surface, take a small train through the forest, then stroll leisurely in the unique border town, eat delicious beef and mutton, and drink rich milk tea!
A cool summer at 22°C
Immerse in the pure scenery that rivals Switzerland
Every time summer arrives, Inner Mongolia comes to mind.
On the boundless grasslands, winding rivers flow, tranquil lakes sparkle, and herds of horses run freely… Just one glance evokes a sense of freedom, ease, and grandeur.
Heading to the Grasslands
When the green grass covers every hillside and wildflowers bloom in every corner, the vast grasslands open the prelude to summer, and Inner Mongolia becomes a “green paradise.”
📍Hulunbuir Grassland
Take a trip to the Hulunbuir Grassland! It is one of the world’s four largest grasslands and is known as “the best grassland in the world.”
Meandering rivers flow through the vast grassland, while a few cattle and sheep drink water along the winding riverbanks. You can see the expanse of lush grass stretching all the way to the forests of the Greater Khingan Range.
The clouds there seem to be within reach, the air carries a hint of sweetness, and the greenery extends as far as the eye can see. Perhaps no other place is as fresh, pure, vast, and free as this.
📍Ujimqin Grassland
Take a trip to the Ujimqin Grassland! It is the “heavenly grassland,” with a pure and wild landscape.
Herdsmen ride their horses towards the horizon, while herds of cattle and sheep are scattered like pearls on the grassland. You can ride a horse through the yurts or take a lele cart to travel across the sea of grass…
📍Ulagay Grassland
Take a trip to the Ulagay Grassland! It is the filming location of “Wolf Totem,” where wildflowers fill the entire field.
On the undulating green waves, flowers sway in the wind, with a touch of golden yellow and a patch of light pink. Occasionally, cattle and sheep are dotted among them, like a vast and tranquil oil painting.
Entering the Wetlands
On the vast grasslands, there are also winding rivers and lush wetlands, filled with vitality and hope beyond your imagination!
📍Erguna Wetland
Take a trip to the Erguna Wetland, the “No.1 Wetland in Asia.”
The Erguna River flows like a blue ribbon through the vast green fields, countless migratory birds soar above the river, and large areas of birch forests stand tall in the wilderness.
📍Heishantou Leff Wetland Manor
Take a trip to the Heishantou Leff Wetland Park, the only place where you can deeply explore the “No.1 Wetland in Asia.”
Step onto the forest boardwalk to view Lion Bay from afar, overlook Rose Island, and gaze at the grasslands and wetlands, with large patches of birch and Siberian pine trees blocking the sky. It seems like a “condensed version of Hulunbuir.”
📍Moergele River
Take a trip to the Moergele River, the “No.1 Winding River in the World,” where “Where Are We Going, Dad?” was filmed.
Climb to a high point and overlook the entire river, which looks like a winding jade belt traversing the vast wilderness, meandering and reflecting the blue sky and white clouds…
📍Hawuer River
Take a trip to the Hawuer River, the “most winding river in the forest.”
Walking slowly along the wooden boardwalk, you can see the scattered wildflowers in the forest from afar and the winding Hawuer River. In a daze, it seems as if you’ve stumbled into a fairy tale’s enchanted forest!
Stopping by the Lakes
Where rivers flow, crystal-clear lakes also gather, like pieces of translucent green gems studded on the boundless wilderness.
📍Hulun Lake
Take a trip to Hulun Lake, the largest lake in Inner Mongolia, with a vastness like the sea.
You can stroll along the lakeshore, looking up at the clear lake water rippling with light, while the lush grass meadows grow towards the distance, as if the vast grassland and the vast sea are connected.
📍Dalinuoer Lake
Take a trip to Dalinuoer Lake, one of the four famous lakes in Inner Mongolia and also the “Bird Paradise.”
You can walk slowly into the water along the boardwalk, with the moist wind blowing from afar and birds flying low over the lake. The world’s noise seems to fade away in an instant, leaving only the sound of the wind and the rolling waves.
📍Huhenauoer Lake
Take a trip to Huhenauoer Lake, a blue lake that was once a sub-venue for the Spring Festival Gala.
The vast grassland embraces the clear blue lake like a green carpet, with flocks of wild ducks and a few swans resting on the water. You can watch a Nadam Fair or gaze at the soaring waterfowl…
Wandering in the Forests
The grassland extends all the way to the foot of the Greater Khingan Range forests, where you can encounter towering trees, babbling streams, and the summer of the forest.
📍Birch Forest
Take a trip to the Birch Forest, the closest primitive forest to the city.
Rows of birch trees stand tall, with a few elk roaming among them. You can stroll under the trees, letting the sunlight cast dappled shadows on your body and get close to the lovely deer…
📍Arxan
Take a trip to Arxan, nestled in the hinterland of the Greater Khingan Range and known as the “Little Switzerland of the East.”
Grasslands, forests, rivers, volcanoes, crater lakes, and the fairy-tale-like small town – you can see almost all the beautiful scenery here!
You can take a small train through the grasslands and forests, or go to the crater lake to see the lingering mist over the water. You can also stroll in the quiet Bailang Town, which is also the filming location of “My Dear Inn”…
📍Silu Tribe
Take a trip to the Silu Tribe, the last hunting tribe in China, hidden in the forest.
It is an ancient tribe that can only be found under the guidance of locals. They live with reindeer and forests for their entire lives. You can see graceful reindeer foraging in the forest, and cooking smoke rising in front of the simple wooden houses…
Gazing at the Deserts
In the summer of Inner Mongolia, apart from the lush greenery, there are also stretches of golden sands that extend for thousands of miles.
Among China’s eight major deserts, Inner Mongolia is home to four of them. You can go to see the Badain Jaran Desert, known as “China’s most beautiful desert,” or witness the flying yellow sands and the brilliant starry sky of the Tengger Desert…
Exploring Unique Border Towns
Experience the Charm of Three Countries in One Trip
During the days when you can’t travel abroad, come to Inner Mongolia for a trip. It borders Russia and Outer Mongolia, allowing you to experience the charm of three countries in one go!
Manzhouli
Bordering Mongolia to the west and Russia to the north, walking in Manzhouli, the “Window of East Asia,” you might think you’ve already found yourself on a foreign street.
Strolling along the Sino-Soviet Street, you can see various Russian or Mongolian texts everywhere, with romantic and bright pointed-roof buildings on both sides. From time to time, you might encounter blue-eyed, blonde Russian girls walking towards you, with an exotic atmosphere permeating the air.
Go and visit the iconic Matryoshka Square, which has set two Guinness World Records.
At first glance, you’ll be attracted by the bright and dazzling, towering matryoshka buildings. Walking among the large and small matryoshkas, passing through one onion-domed Russian-style building after another, it feels like entering a colorful fairy tale wonderland.
Go and see the National Gate at the Sino-Russian border, which is so solemn and dignified. The white gate shines brightly under the sun. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of trains rushing across the Eurasian continent in the distance.
As night falls, the entire city will be illuminated by dazzling lights. The golden, shimmering neighborhoods and the neon-flashing buildings seem to be immersed in a beautiful, enchanting dream.
Shiwei
Located on the Sino-Russian border, Shiwei Town is also one of the few Russian ethnic townships in China.
At dusk, the setting sun casts its glow on the colorful Russian-style wooden houses, as if you’ve arrived in a fairy tale town. Across the Erguna River, you can vaguely see the scenery of the Russian town on the opposite bank.
You can go to the restaurants in town to taste authentic Russian cuisine such as kvass and rye bread, or wait for a song and dance performance to watch Russian girls and boys singing and dancing…
Enhe
On the vast grasslands of Hulunbuir, there is also a quiet and simple Enhe Ethnic Township.
Here, rows of exquisite and distinctive small wooden houses stand, with herds of cattle and sheep grazing near the town. From time to time, you can see Russian uncles drinking tea in their vegetable gardens and Russian grandmothers picking blueberries in the yard…
Riding a bicycle and leisurely wandering around the town for an entire afternoon, as dusk falls, you can stay in the local wooden house, as if stepping into the Russian pastoral time.
Hotpot and Milk Wine
This is the Bold Taste of Inner Mongolia
The vast grasslands and wetlands have a complex ecosystem, unsuitable for growing crops, but they are the natural habitat for cattle and sheep, nurturing countless fat and tender livestock.
Most of the time, the climate in Inner Mongolia is relatively cold, often requiring drinking alcohol to keep warm. Therefore, eating beef and mutton and drinking milk wine have become daily routines here, even attracting “A Bite of China” to come and check in!
The Fragrance of Beef and Mutton
People often say that once you’ve tasted the beef and mutton in Inner Mongolia, you’ll never forget it.
Here, you can find the fattest and most delicious cattle and sheep in the country, which are said to have grown up “eating medicinal herbs and drinking spring water.” In the hands of the locals, the fresh, juicy, and delicious taste without any gamey smell is brought to the extreme!
The mornings in the cities of Inner Mongolia are often awakened by steaming hot mutton buns. In Hohhot alone, tens of thousands of mutton buns are consumed every day.
The most classic is the mutton and scallion bun, with the fragrant and delicious mutton paired with the sweat-inducing and cold-dispelling scallions. One bite of the bun and one sip of brick tea, filled with a sense of happiness!
The standard portion of three pounds of pure meat per person per meal is not just a joke here. Hotpot, roasting, boiling… There are numerous ways to cook beef and mutton, making you wish you had three stomachs.
The most traditional and famous dish is the “hand-held meat” in the homes of grassland herdsmen. The freshly slaughtered lamb is cooked on the spot, cut into pieces, and boiled in a pot of clear water over high heat. Without any seasoning or condiments, you’ll taste the original, fresh flavor!
There are also crispy and firm roasted lamb chops, rich and creamy milk barrel meat, fresh and juicy mutton hotpot… It’s simply a paradise for meat lovers!
Rich and Creamy Dairy
In addition to meat, Inner Mongolia is also the place that knows how to enjoy dairy the most, with the scent of milk lingering in the air.
In most cities, milk tea can be 70% sweet, but in Inner Mongolia, milk tea is salty! Adding self-squeezed cow’s milk to the tea, along with some fried rice, cream, and butter, creates the nomadic milk tea, with a rich and creamy flavor mixed with a slight saltiness.
Or you can have a cup of yogurt, which can be divided into raw fermented yogurt and cooked fermented yogurt. Raw fermented yogurt is made by fermenting fresh milk, with a more sour taste, while cooked fermented yogurt is made by fermenting boiled fresh milk, resulting in a brownish color.
Locals also love to eat milk skin. Fresh milk is boiled in a pot until a layer of milk skin forms on the surface. The skin is then picked up and dried, creating milk skin that can be eaten frozen or roasted. The rich milky flavor is addictive with just one bite!
The milk residue can be made into milk tofu. The residue is compressed into shape using heavy objects and then air-dried, resulting in milky white milk tofu. It takes more than ten pounds of fresh milk to make one pound of milk tofu, making it the essence of milk.
Exotic Cuisine
Not only can you enjoy a sumptuous feast of beef and mutton and authentic, rich dairy products, but you can also taste authentic Russian-style cuisine, making it a satisfying experience!
Due to Russia’s exceptionally cold climate, Russian cuisine is often known for its high calorie content, with creamy sauces and hearty meat dishes that will definitely leave you feeling satisfied.
Whether it’s steak, beef stew, borscht, or Russian-style roasted sausages, they all have a very authentic Russian flavor and are relatively affordable.
Of course, there are also exquisite and sweet Russian desserts, such as the large rye bread mixed with beer and malt sugar, the cheese bun with a crispy chocolate crust and soft cheese filling, and various crispy pastries… simply delighting dessert lovers!
Variety of Snacks
It’s not just the main meals where you can eat meat and drink alcohol to your heart’s content. Inner Mongolian snacks are also very hearty!
The herdsmen on the grasslands still continue the dietary habit of drying beef. They select high-quality fresh beef and hang it in the whistling wind of the grasslands for 4-5 months, resulting in loose and fragrant meat that can be eaten after roasting.
Cheese cakes are also a famous snack on the grasslands. The crispy and sweet pastry is filled with rich cheese, creating a stringy texture that never gets old no matter how many times you eat it.
Inner Mongolia also has its own unique “meat burger,” which is the Chifeng sandwich. The crispy baked bun is used as the outer layer, stuffed with smoked pork. The golden and crispy exterior is filled with the aroma of the firm smoked meat, becoming more fragrant with each bite.
In the summer, you must visit Inner Mongolia!
Go and see the vast grasslands, the winding rivers, the lush forests, the shimmering lakes, the vast and magnificent deserts…
Eating beef and mutton, drinking mare’s milk wine, it is a land of freedom that haunts your dreams.
