Famous Attractions in Inner Mongolia

The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, bordering to the north with both the Republic of Mongolia and Russia, is the widest province in China (by its latitude). Inner Mongolia is dominated by a temperate continental monsoon climate. It has four distinct seasons because of its distance from sea, its high terrain and obstruction of mountains. It has long and cold winters while summer is short but warm. Known as the "arctic in China", the lowest temperature's record is -50 ℃. It is windy in all seasons, especially in spring.

Hulunbuir Prairie

Hulunbuir Prairie, or Hulun Buir Grassland, located in the northeast of Inner Mongolia, is the superbly untouched prairie in China. Hulunbuir Prairie is among the three great prairies in the world, termed “the kingdom of pasture”. The prairie covers 100 thousand sq km (39 thousand sq mi) of some 3,000 interwoven rivers and 500 dotted lakes. It is a pleasure for the eyes to see the land and what it holds. The name Hulunbuir Prairie origins from the Hulun Lake and the Buir Lake. Hulun means otter and Buir means male otter in Mongolian, as the two lakes used to be teeming with otters.

Arxan-Chaihe Scenic Area

Arxan-Chaihe Scenic Area is in the central Greater Hinggan Mountains, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, covering an area of 13,168 square kilometers. It features an exceptionally dense concentration of volcanic landforms including volcano clusters, hot springs, volcanic crater lakes and granite hills. It was selected as a 5A-level scenic spot in 2017.

Ergune

With a history of 800 years, the city has also preserved multiple natural ecological systems consisting of hilly land, forests, grassland, lakes and swamps. Seventy percent of Ergune belongs to a natural protection area and 90 percent is covered with green. It serves as an important ecological shield in North China according to Ergune’s forestry bureau. Ergune is not only known for its rich historical culture, but also for its breathtaking original ecological landscape. It’s becoming a popular tourist destination to experience both history and nature. Its tourist volume reached 1.70 million in 2013.

Dazhao Monastery

As a famous tourist resort, its illustrious palace, vivid sculpture, fancy frescos, numerous scriptures, mystic dance and Buddhism music make up the unique “Monastery Culture”. The “Three Marvelous Treasures” of Dazhao Monastery, Silver Buddha, Dragon sculpture, as well as Fresco, are the relics of Ming Dynasty with high technics and article value.

Genghis Khan’s Mausoleum

Genghis Khan is a Mongolian hero who reunified the chaotic Inner-Mongolia prairie, made great contribution to the founding of the powerful Yuan Dynasty and enhanced greatly the interaction of the people of China. The present Genghis Khan's Mausoleum was built in 1954 in Ordos City, Inner Mongolia, about 185 km (around 115 miles) from Baotou City. 

Ejine Desert Poplar Forest

The desert poplar forest in Ejine (Ejin) Banner is one of the three remaining populus euphratica forest reserves in the world. The scenic area integrates an assortment of landscapes including desert, Gobi, grassland, lake and forest.

Dalain Hob, the seat of Ejine, serves as an ideal base camp for touring the forests that surround the town, the densest of which are along the Ejine River. Eight bridges span the river, and the areas around the second, fourth and eighth bridges are the best places to photograph the golden foliage.

Asihatu Hoodoos

The Asihatu Hoodoos or Asihatu Stone Forest is located at the north mountain northeast of Hexigten Banner of Chifeng. Asihatu granite is a rare stone forest landform. Asihatu Stone Forest Tourist District has both stone forests and grassland. It is a multi-functional geological park combining such functions as scientific study, viewing, sightseeing, popular science education, leisure and holiday making, entertainment and exploration.

Wudangzhao Monastery

70 kilometers (approx. 43 miles) northeast of Baotou, near a valley named Wudang Gou, lies the Wudangzhao Monastery which is a large Tibetan Buddhist monastery. It is the biggest and the best-preserved lama monastery in Inner Mongolia's Autonomous Region. 'Bada Gele Monastery' is its Tibetan name, meaning white lotus. 'Wudangzhao' in Mongolian means 'willow'. Willows are prosperous in the valley, thus the name.

Zhaojun Tomb

Zhaojun Tomb, or called the Tomb of Wang Zhaojun, is said to be the resting place of the famous historic princess Wang Zhaojun whose husband was a Xiongnu Chanyu. This site is located by the Da Hi River nine kilometers south of Hohhot, Inner Mongolia. Built in the West Han Dynasty, this tomb has more than 2,000 years' history and now is regarded as one of the national cultural heritage in China. The cemetery is 13,000 m², with a 33-meter mound containing Zhaojun's coffin, making it a landmark of the region.

Wanbu Huayanjing Pagoda

On the plain of the eastern Hohhot, there is an outstanding white pagoda penetrating the sky from the ground straightly. This pagoda is the world-famous one – Wanbu Huayanjing Pagoda. Because the whole pagoda is in white color, so it is also called White Pagoda. It is located about 18 kilometers east of downtown Hohhot and is one of eight famous sightseeing spots in the city. It is said that the 55.5-meter-high pagoda was built to preserve Buddhist scriptures. However, these are now no longer in the pagoda.