Guide | The Best Travel Route from Beijing to Inner Mongolia: Inner Mongolia Grassland Exploration Tour

Beautiful Inner Mongolia: Modern Grassland Discovery Trip

The first route, the Modern Grassland Discovery Trip, takes travelers through Hohhot, Baotou, and Ordos.

Route Itinerary

- Beijing → Hohhot → Baotou → Ordos → Beijing

Route Overview

This classic self-driving tour covers the three cities of Hohhot, Baotou, and Ordos in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The route highlights the Chi Lechuan grassland of Inner Mongolia Grasslands, historical and cultural sites, rural and red tourism, intangible cultural heritage, the Yellow River Wetland Park, and the unique Xiangshawan Desert Tourism area.

Inner Mongolia Taste Recommendations

- Hohhot: Enjoy mutton offal, baked and steamed buns, yellow rice fried cakes, Tuoxian stewed fish, roasted Fangzi, stir-fried mutton with green onions, braised beef, and Huishao noodles.

- Baotou: Savor Mongolian mutton hot pot, cold water boiled mutton, Yellow River roasted fish, whole beef banquet, roasted deer steak, copper pot fine stew, Dafulin steamed buns, Zamon Menghua mixed soup, and local Baotou snacks.

• Ordos: Indulge in Yuan Dynasty palace-style roasted whole cow, Ordos wedding banquet lamb back, Albas air-dried lamb, Hongyun ox head, wedding tea, pork ribs braised with yam meatballs, pickled pork and cabbage, Junggar six bowls, grassland pearl fried lamb treasure with sand onion, and Ordos snacks.

Accommodation Recommendations

- Inner Mongolia Hotel

- Xincheng Hotel

- Ordos Crowne Plaza Hotel

- Qixing Lake Desert Hotel

- Xiangshawan Lotus Hotel

- Cuijiazhai B&B

Inner Mongolia Gifts Recommendations

- Hohhot: Consider "China's First Dragon" jade pendant, Main Lion Shunxing fridge magnet, Fuyou Shouhu keychain, Fuxing Liulu luggage tag, Fuyao Qingyun deer brooch, bronze blind box, Hanzi keychain, Prosperous Series jewelry, hand-made leather carving bags, Mengqing products (small fragrant rice, Chiculai noodles, daily congee small fragrant rice), and Zhengrong Qingshan tea set.

- Baotou: Choose Liuhe pillow series products, Camel Baotou Soul, Diaochan original melon seeds, and Mulan original melon seeds.

• Ordos: Opt for butter lipstick, carved saddle USB flash drive, grassland long river leather wine set, Wuleji milk teapot, silver jewelry, milk soft skin hand cream, Suyanchucai, grassland auspicious doll cloth stickers, grass fragrance hot compress vanilla bag, natural space purification fragrance, natural life line incense, pastoral home original cultural incense burner, and rock sugar red sea juice drink.

Itinerary Planning

Day 1: Hohhot City

Visit the Chi Lechuan Grassland Ecological Tourism Area, which spans 10,389 acres and is known as the "back garden" of Qingcheng. Next, enjoy a master-level Matouqin performance at the Matouqin Cultural Industrial Park. Visit the national key village for rural tourism, Naobao Village, to see the scenery, taste local food, and watch the live-action performance of "Ode to Horses Through the Ages" in the evening.

Day 2: Hohhot

Explore the Inner Mongolia Museum to learn about the region's history and culture. In the afternoon, visit Monishan Intangible Cultural Heritage Town to discover Hohhot's intangible cultural heritage. Spend the evening at the Sai Shang Old Street, a national tourist and leisure district, where the quaint streets and lively market atmosphere offer a glimpse into Hohhot's past.

Day 3: Baotou

Travel to Xilamuren Grassland to visit the Northern Wei Great Wall, Dashengkui Ruins, and other cultural relics. Experience traditional cultural activities such as the grassland Nadam, welcoming ceremony, horse skills performance, and bonfire party. The beautiful grassland, melodious Mongolian long tunes, and mellow dismounting wine will rejuvenate your spirit.

Day 4: Baotou City

Visit the Northern Weapon City Scenic Area to see over 40 representative weapons, including the first anti-aircraft gun, the first missile, and the first jet fighter developed by the Republic. In the afternoon, head to the Yellow River Ballad Scenic Area to appreciate the typical dry-rammed fortification, log piles, stone walls, and iconic water wheels of the Yellow River Basin. Climb up in the Yellow River Wetland Park Scenic Area to enjoy the harmonious blend of water and sky.

Day 5: Ordos

Explore the Xiangshawan Scenic Area, a national AAAAA-level tourist attraction, with its thrilling Xiansha Island Desert Roller Coaster, refreshing Yuesha Island Water World, tranquil Fusha Island, and comfortable Lotus Resort Island.

Day 6: Ordos

Visit the Xiangshawan Scenic Area in the morning. In the afternoon, go to the Kangzhen Scenic Area. In the evening, admire the large-scale waterscape music fountain in Kangbashi District, with a main fountain that reaches 209 meters and features world-class lighting, sound, and jet technology. Fly back to Beijing in the evening.