Everything You Need to Plan Your Grassland Adventure
Plan My Trip →Inner Mongolia, stretching across northern China, is a land of boundless grasslands, singing sand dunes, and a proud nomadic culture. This 2025 guide brings together everything you need to plan an unforgettable trip — from the Hulunbuir grasslands to the Gobi desert, from yurt stays to Mongolian feasts.
Inner Mongolia offers an experience found nowhere else in China: wide-open grasslands that seem to roll to the horizon, the chance to ride horses with Mongolian herders, sleep in traditional yurts, and witness a way of life unchanged for centuries. It is the perfect escape from the crowds of Beijing and Shanghai.
The best time to visit is from June to September, when the grasslands are at their greenest and the Naadam festival season brings horse racing, wrestling, and archery. July and August are peak season with the most events and the warmest weather. For desert lovers, October offers cooler temperatures and dramatic light.
Hohhot, the capital, is the perfect starting point with its temples and food streets. The Xilamuren and Gegentala grasslands offer classic grassland experiences near the capital. Further afield, the Hulunbuir grassland in the northeast is the most pristine and vast, while the Kubuqi and Badain Jaran deserts in the south provide spectacular dune landscapes.
Most travelers fly into Hohhot Baita International Airport from Beijing (about 1.5 hours) or take the high-speed train (about 2.5 hours). For the eastern grasslands, fly to Hailar (Hulunbuir). Within the region, travel is best by private car, as public transport between grassland attractions is limited.
The signature Inner Mongolia experience is a stay in a yurt (Mongolian ger) on the grassland, complete with the traditional welcome ceremony and an evening bonfire. Most grassland resorts are simple but comfortable. In Hohhot and other cities, international-standard hotels are available.
Sample the famous hand-pulled mutton (shouba yangrou), Mongolian milk tea with butter, roasted whole lamb, and dairy products like milk skins and cheese. The food is hearty, meat-centric, and best enjoyed with the local baijiu or kumis (fermented mare's milk).
Pack layers — grassland weather changes quickly, and nights are cool even in summer. Bring sunscreen, a hat, and insect repellent. Book yurt stays in advance during July-August peak season. If you ride horses, wear long pants and closed shoes. A good travel agency can arrange a private car and local guide for the most rewarding experience.