The Heart of the Grassland
Plan My Trip →Inner Mongolia's two great landscapes — the grasslands and the desert — define its character. This guide highlights the best of both, from the rolling Hulunbuir meadows to the towering dunes of the Badain Jaran.
Inner Mongolia is famous for its grasslands. The Xilamuren and Gegentala grasslands near Hohhot offer easy access for day trips, with horse riding, yurt stays, and welcome ceremonies. For the most pristine experience, travel to the vast Hulunbuir grassland in the northeast, a world of rolling green sea.
Spending a night in a Mongolian yurt (ger) is essential. Most grassland resorts include the traditional welcome ceremony — offering milk tea and hada scarves — plus an evening bonfire with singing and dancing. Visiting a herder's family offers a deeper glimpse of nomadic life.
The Kubuqi, one of China's most accessible deserts, offers camel rides, sandboarding, and dramatic dune landscapes. Stay overnight in a desert resort to watch the sunset paint the dunes gold.
In western Inner Mongolia, the Badain Jaran is a remote wonder of giant dunes and the world's highest sand mountains, dotted with freshwater lakes. A 4WD expedition here is a serious adventure for intrepid travelers.
The region's cities — Hohhot, Baotou, and Ordos — offer temples, museums, and food streets. Dazhao Temple, the Five Pagoda Temple, and the Inner Mongolia Museum in Hohhot are highlights, with modern Ordos offering a striking contrast.
A typical 5-7 day itinerary combines Hohhot with the Xilamuren or Gegentala grasslands and the Kubuqi Desert. For the Hulunbuir grasslands, allow 4-5 extra days and plan to fly to Hailar. Summer is the peak season for both landscapes.