4 Days Inner Mongolia Grassland Tour - Uncover Mongolian Nomadic Life

Welcome to Hohhot, the capital of Inner Mongolia! Upon your arrival at the airport or train station in Hohhot, your driver will meet you at the exit and escort you to a carefully selected hotel in Hohhot City. The rest of the day is yours. Enjoy your Free Time in Hohhot City.

Located in the central part of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot serves as the gateway to stunning grasslands and deserts, including Xilamuren Grassland, Huitengxile Grassland, and the famous Kubuqi Desert. Hohhot offers the best opportunities to experience grassland scenery & activities, explore nomadic life & festivals, and delve into Mongolian culture & history.

The name "Hohhot呼和浩特" means "Green City青城" in Mongolian. Legend has it that in 1581, Genghis Khan's descendant Alatan Khan (阿拉坦汗)settled here, constructing the city walls with blue-green stones from Daqing Mountain大青山, giving rise to the city's name. Hohhot is also known as "Zhao City" due to its numerous temples (Zhao meaning temples in Mongolian). Today, Hohhot is renowned as the Dairy Capital of China (中国乳都) and is home to global dairy giants Yili and Mengniu (伊利&蒙牛), both headquartered in the city.

Hohhot is a historic city dating back to the Warring States period (476 BC-221 BC). Shaped by ongoing cultural exchanges between the Central Plains and Grassland Ethnic Groups, Hohot boasts a wealth of historical and cultural attractions, including Dazhao Temple (Tibetan Buddhism), Zhaojun Tomb (commemorating one of ancient China's Four Beauties, who married a Xiongnu Chanyu), and the Inner Mongolia Museum, which houses treasures like the Xiongnu’s Eagle-Crested Golden Crown Ornament.

Free Time Ideas:
1.Inner Mongolia Museum of General’s Government Office (将军衙署博物院; Closed on Mondays): Visit the residence of frontier generals in the Qing Dynasty, uncover why it is acclaimed as "A General's Mansion, the history of the Green City一座将军府, 半部青城史."
2.Residence of Gurun Princess Kejing (清-固伦恪靖公主府博物院; Closed on Mondays): Explore the residence of Princess Heshuo和硕公主, the sixth daughter of Emperor Kangxi康熙皇帝. It is the most well-preserved Qing Dynasty princess mansion in China.
3.Kuan Alley Food Street (宽巷子民族美食街; Muslim Quarter): Stroll at Kuanxiangzi Street of Hui District for all kind of Mongolian food & halal food, such as Lamb Haslet Soup, Shaomai, Mongolian Milk Tea, or grilled lamb kebabs. You can also pay a visit to the Hohhot Mosque (Great Mosque) nearby.

Good to Know:
1.Inner Mongolia, China's third-largest province after Xinjiang and Tibet, stretches over 2,400 km from east to west, making it the country's widest region. Bordering Russia at Manzhouli and Mongolia at Erenhot, Inner Mongolia is inhabited by 24 million people. It's an ideal Summer Destination to immerse yourself in the Mongolian culture in the Yuan Dynasty and uncover the captivating life and heritage of Genghis Khan.
2.Inner Mongolia sits at an average elevation of 1,000-1,500 meters, with strong UV rays. Pack sunglasses, a hat & sunscreen. Temperatures can fluctuate between morning & evening, so pack warm coats, long pants & sports shoes. Mongolian food tends to be salty, oily & mildly spiced. Beef, mutton & noodles are staple dishes to try.
3.If your trip to Inner Mongolia happens to coincide with the Naadam Festival (内蒙古那达慕; usually in July or August), you'll have the exciting opportunity to witness the famous Three Games of Mongolia Men (男儿三艺): horse racing, wrestling, and archery. Each grassland/city has its own time of Naadam Fair (usually lasts for 3-7 days). Feel free to contact us if you want to join this major event in Inner Mongolia.

Arrival Ideas:
1.How to get to Hohhot By Air: Hohhot Baita International Airport (呼和浩特白塔国际机场) is about 24 km away from Dazhao Temple (Note: Hohhot Shengle International Airport 呼和浩特盛乐国际机场 will soon replace it by the end of 2025; 31 km from Hohhot Train Station). Direct flights connect Hohhot with major cities in China, such as Beijing (1h 20 min), Shanghai (2h 50 min), Chengdu (2.5h), Guangzhou (3h 20min), etc. It's essential to check flight schedules in advance, as not all routes operate year-round.
2.How to get to Hohhot By High Speed Train: Hohhot can be reached by train through Hohhot East Railway Station & Hohhot Railway Station. There are high-speed trains to Hohhot from Beijing (2h 50 min), Datong (1h 28 min), Taiyuan (3h 40 min), Shanghai (12h 11min), Xian (6h 35 min), etc. Contact us for ticket booking.

This morning, you will head to Xilamuren Grassland of Baotou for a Mongolian Nomadic Life Experience. It is about a 2-hour drive (83 km). You will watch the Large-scale Live-action Performance at Hongge'er Aobao Scenic Area. Then, you will stay overnight at a Mongolian Traditional Yurt with a Bonfire Party (Mongolian song & dance).

You will drive past Daqing Mountain (大青山), a part of the famous Yinshan Mountains (阴山山脉; the dividing line between agriculture and animal husbandry). It is a popular hiking destination for locals to escape city life. When you reach Xilamuren Grassland (希拉穆仁草原), you will feel the hospitality of local herdmen by enjoying a Mongolian Welcome Ceremony. As the closest grassland to Hohhot, Xilamuren Grassland is one of the most beautiful and vast grasslands in Inner Mongolia. As the first grassland in Inner Mongolia to be developed into a tourism attraction & a popular summer destination in China, it offers the most nomadic experience in the grassland.

Optional Grassland Activities: (Self-pay)
Horse Riding on Xilamuren Grassland if the weather permits.

Note for Horseback Riding on Inner Mongolia Grasslands:
1.Guided Ride (Beginners): Most common and safest for first-timers. A herdsman leads your horse for a walk within a designated area.
2.Independent Ride (Experienced Riders): If you're skilled, you might rent a horse from a local herder for free riding. However, this comes with no safety guidance and isn't generally recommended.
3.The fee for Guided Ride and Independent Ride are different. Do double check the price and riding time before enjoy your horse riding.

Next, pay a visit to Hongge'er Aobao Scenic Area (红格尔敖包), the largest Aobao in Xilamuren Grassland. It has a history of over 400 years. Join the locals in performing the "kora," a ritual walk around the Aobao, a sacred site where Mongolians worship, offer sacrifices, pray, and make wishes. Enjoy a panoramic view of the grassland from the Aobao before witnessing the Large-scale Live Equestrian Drama (草原大型实景马术剧), a spectacular outdoor show showcasing Mongolian culture, including the renowned Three Games of Mongolian (男儿三艺) - Horse Racing, Wrestling, and Archery.

Cap off the day by participating in a lively Bonfire Party featuring Mongolian singing and dancing after dinner. Experience the enchanting starlit sky over the grassland as you spend the night in a traditional Mongolian yurt.

Dinner Optional: (Self-pay)
Mongolian Traditional Zhama Banquet Dinner (诈马宴): Try roasted whole sheep (烤全羊) and other famous Mongolian dishes while dressed in traditional Mongolian attire, enjoying Mongolian ethnic song and dance, and experiencing Mongolian silver bowl and hada ceremonial toasting rituals...

This morning, you can choose to get up early (around 4:00 am) to wait for an amazing sunrise at Xilamuren Grassland (Optional). Then, take a Mongolian Family Visit for Nomadic Life Experience before heading to Dazhao Temple of Hohhot.

Begin your day by witnessing the daily grassland life at a Mongolian herdsman's home. You can have the chance to learn to speak and read Mongolian, make Mongolian milk tea, feed lambs, herd sheep, milk cows, communicate with the herdsman, get more ideas about the Mongolian musical instrument (horse-head fiddle马头琴) …You can even experience wearing Mongolian costumes for photo taking (Optional). Have fun with local people and uncover more stories and legends of Nomadic Life.

After that, time to head to Hohhot (80 km, 2h; Guihua City归化城) to explore Dazhao Temple (大召寺/大召无量寺). The Dazhao Temple, founded by Alatan Khan (阿拉坦汗/俺答汗; 1508-1582), the leader of the Mongolian Tumote tribe in the Ming Dynasty, was established in 1579. In the square in front of the Dazhao Temple, you will see the legendary builder of the temple, Alatan Khan (the reincarnations of Kublai Khan 忽必烈的转世). The temple is also known as the "Silver Buddha Temple" because it houses a statue of Sakyamuni made of 30,000 taels of pure silver (brought to light by the 3rd Dalai Lama, Sonam Gyatso, the reincarnations of Buton Rinchen Drub; 三世达赖喇嘛索南嘉措/八思巴的转世).

The Dazhao Temple is also known as the "Three Wonders" - the silver Buddha, dragon carvings, and mural, which are all historical relics from the Ming Dynasty. This temple is not only the earliest Tibetan Buddhist temple in Hohhot but also the largest Tibetan Buddhist holy site (Yellow Sect Gelug School) in Inner Mongolia. The temple is laid out in a north-south direction along the central axis, combining Han, Tibetan, and Mongolian architectural styles, attracting architecture enthusiasts and photographers for its Royal Architecture with Yellow glazed tiles (黄琉璃瓦), which can only be used in royal buildings.

In the Qing Dynasty, the Dazhao Temple was also the ancestral temple of Emperor Kangxi (康熙皇帝; 1654-1722). To this day, the tablets of Emperor Kangxi and his father, Shunzhi (顺治皇帝), are still enshrined in the temple. Inside the main hall, you can see the over 400-year-old silver-cast Buddha statue (made by Nepalese craftsmen), a golden coiled dragon about 10 meters high before the silver Buddha, as well as precious cultural relics such as the dragon and phoenix peacock umbrella, the pearl octagonal palace lantern, the wealth deity statue gifted by Kangxi Emperor to Dazhao, and precious Tangkas from the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Don't miss the Sakyamuni Eight Pagodas (释迦八塔) at the Dazhao Temple, representing the eight virtues of the Buddha. Additionally, on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month and the fifteenth day of the sixth lunar month each year (Buddha Thangka Unveiling Ceremony; 晒佛节/恰木舞蹈), the Dazhao Temple hangs giant Tangkas from the temple's precious collection on the scripture drying poles. Try your luck to meet local evens in Dazhao Temple.

Free Time Ideas:
1.Visit More Temples in Hohhot: You can hike to more landmarks of Hohhot, such as Xilitu Zhao Temple (席力图召/小召寺; across the street from Dazhao Temple; Self-pay) & Five Pagodas Temple (五塔寺博物馆; about 1 km from Dazhao Temple; Closed on Mondays).
2.Explore Hohhot Food: You can take a stroll from Altan Khan Square (阿拉坦汗广场/大召广场; Dazhao Square for Altan Khan Statue) to Saishang Old Street (塞上老街) and Tongshun Alley (通顺大巷). These are popular streets (near Dazhao Temple) with Ming and Qing-style buildings for enjoying local food and shopping for local souvenirs.

You can visit Inner Mongolia Museum and Zhaojun Museum (Zhaojun Tomb) today. Then, depart from Hohhot. [Note: The Inner Mongolia Museum is currently closed due to moving to new buildings (updated on 23rd April, 2025), it may reopen soon. So we will arrange the trip to the Inner Mongolia Natural Museum instead.]

You can visit Inner Mongolia Museum (Closed on Mondays) for Grassland Culture. Founded in 1957, it is a national first-class museum with more than 150,000 collections, characterized by its fossils of ancient organisms (dinosaur fossils) and cultural relics of ancient Silk Road & northern ethnic groups (Mongolian, Khitan, Xiongnu). Inner Mongolia Museum is an "encyclopedia" to unveil the ecological change, culture, and historical development of the alpine grassland, deserts, forests, etc. You can trace the historical process of Inner Mongolia from prehistoric times, the Bronze Age, the Warring States to the Wei and Jin, the Liao and Jin, the Mongolian-Yuan to the Ming and Qing Dynasties, as well as modern times.

Take your time to find the Treasures of Inner Mongolia Museum‌‌, such as Golden Crown of the Xiongnu King (1,934 grams eagle crown of Warring States Period; 475–221 BC; 战国鹰形金冠饰), Painted Wooden Coffin (Liao Dynasty; over 1,000-year-old; 彩绘棺具), Incense Burner from Jun Kiln (小宋自造均瑶香炉; Yuan Dynasty), Nurosaurus Fossile (the biggest dinosaur in the Cretaceous Period in Asia), Northern Wei: Deer Head Gold Step Shaking Crown (北魏鹿首金步摇冠), Liao Dynasty Golden Mask (辽代黄金面具)…

Then, you can visit Zhaojun Museum. It is about 14 km from Dazhao Temple, where you can visit Zhaojun Tomb, Museum of Hun Culture, Chanyu Big Tent (Dance Show about Zhanjun’s Wedding), Heqin Palace (Culture about Making Peace through Marriage), Zhaojun Room, and Painting & Calligraphy Room (Art Works about Zhaojun).

The Zhaojun Museum, where you can learn about the renowned historical figure Wang Zhaojun from the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 24 AD). Wang Zhaojun was among the four most beautiful women in ancient China. Legend has it that these four ladies were so stunning that they could "make fish sink, wild geese descend, shame the moon, and make flowers blush沉鱼/落雁/闭月/羞花". The phrase "wild geese descend落雁" comes from the tale of Zhaojun Chu Sai (昭君出塞). In 33 BC, during a meeting between the Xiongnu Emperor, Hu Han Ye Chanyu (呼韩邪单于), and the Western Han Emperor, Liushi (汉元帝刘奭), Chanyu expressed his willingness to marry a Han woman to establish peace. Wang Zhaojun, a concubine of Emperor Liushi, volunteered to marry Chanyu to promote harmony between their people. Saying goodbye to her rich homeland, she ventured beyond the Great Wall to the Chanyu's impoverished grassland dwelling.

During her travels, amidst the rolling yellow sands and the sounds of galloping horses and wild geese, Wang Zhaojun felt unsettled. To soothe her emotions, she played a sorrowful tune on her instrument. Her poignant music, combined with her beauty, mesmerized the migrating wild geese, causing them to stop mid-flight and fall to the ground. This captivating moment led to the poetic nickname "wild geese descend" for Wang Zhaojun. Her selfless act paved the way for over 60 years of peace between the Han and Xiongnu. This historical event is passed down from generation to generation and is widely known as Zhaojun Chu Sai. Wang Zhaojun is now revered for her grace, intelligence, and diplomacy, with her story immortalized in Chinese poetry, drama, and literature.

You will see the bronze statues of Wang Zhaojun and her husband near Zhaojun Tomb, depict a vivid picture of them riding horses and talking to each other intimately. It symbolizes not only their love, but also the friendship between the Han & the Xiongnu (a nomadic ethnic group living in North China). Standing at Zhaojun Tomb (Qingzhong青冢), the Resting Place of One of China’s Greatest Women in History, you may feel the breeze that blows here 2,000 years ago. You should not miss visiting the Museum of Hun Culture, the only museum about Xiongnu Culture (匈奴文化) with the Huns’ historical relics and art crafts about Zhaojun.

Free Time Ideas: (If Time Permits)
1.Inner Mongolia Natural Museum (内蒙古自然博物馆; 8.5 km from Dazhao Temple): Journey through time and diverse landscapes. You'll discover fascinating fossils of dinosaurs and ancient creatures, alongside realistic displays that bring Inner Mongolia's forests, grasslands, and deserts to life right before your eyes.
2.Uncover Dashengkui Museum Cluster (大盛魁博物馆集群; 1.1 km from Dazhao Temple): It comprises the Dashengkui Cultural Museum (Closed on Mondays), Yongsheng Ceramic Museum, Morin Khuur Museum (Horse-head Fiddle Museum)... Established by Jin/Shanxi merchants (晋商), Dashengkui was China's first privately owned joint-stock enterprise along the Tea Road between China and Russia. Dashengkui, nicknamed "Half Guihua City 半个归化城", brought prosperity to Guihua City (Hohhot).

At last, it is time to end your 4 Days Inner Mongolia Grassland Tour. Thank you for choosing Asia Odyssey Travel (AOT) for your China Tour, and we are always here working for you and hope to see you again for your next trip to Asia. Safe journey!

Extension Ideas:
1.You can extend your Hohhot Tour to other cities in Inner Mongolia, such as Baotou, Ordos, Ejin Banner, Badain Jaran Desert, and Hulunbuir. Please feel free to let us know, we can help you with the arrangements.
2.You can extend your Inner Mongolia Tour to other cities in China, such as Beijing, Shanxi (Datong/Pingyao/Wutaishan/Taiyuan), Gansu (Zhangye/Lanzhou/Dunhuang/Jiayuguan), Ningxia, Xian, Luoyang, Chengdu (Sichuan), and Shanghai, etc. We can customize your itinerary.