Baotou

The "Steel City of the Grassland", where the Tibetan Buddhist Wudang Lamasery and the Yellow River scenery of Nanhai Wetland go hand in hand; also a transit hub for Xiangshawan and Xilamuren.

Baotou lies in central-western Inner Mongolia on the northern bank of the Yellow River's great northern bend, backed by the Daqing and Wula mountains of the Yin Mountain range. It is the region's largest industrial city, long nicknamed the "Steel City of the Grassland" and the "Deer City". The city stretches east to west, with Kundulun, Qingshan and Donghe as its main districts: Kundulun and Qingshan form the newer city and commercial center, while Donghe is where old Baotou began, preserving the Beiliang old quarter and sites such as Zhuanlongzang.

The climate is temperate continental, with long, cold winters (January averages about −12°C) and cool, dry summers. Jun–Sep is the best time to travel: in Jul–Aug the Yin Mountain meadows are in flower and you can camp on Chunkun Mountain, while September brings crisp autumn weather and migrating birds passing through the Yellow River wetlands. Spring is windy and dusty, so come prepared.

Sightseeing falls into three areas: ① the city — Saihantala urban grassland, Arding Botanical Garden, the Northern Weapons City and Nanhai Wetland, all doable in one day; ② the Yin Mountains to the northeast — Wudang Lamasery in Shiguai District, one of the most completely preserved Gelug Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in China, about 70 km from the city; ③ Tumed Right Banner to the east — Meidai Lamasery, a Ming-dynasty combined fortress and monastery about 60 km from the city, which can be paired with Wudang Lamasery in a one-day driving loop. Chunkun Mountain in Guyang County to the north is an alpine meadow at about 2,300 m, popular for summer camping, but public transport is poor, so you'll need to drive.

Getting there: Baotou Donghe Airport has flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and other cities; Baotou Station and Baotou East Station have high-speed/bullet trains to Hohhot (about 1 hour) and Beijing. Kangbashi in Ordos and Xiangshawan are about 1.5–2 hours' drive away, and Baotou is often combined with Ordos for a 5–6-day trip. For outlying sights, hire a car or self-drive. Allow 2–3 days.

Tips: walk clockwise around temples, don't touch ritual objects other than prayer wheels, and note that photography is prohibited in most halls; the grasslands get much colder in the mornings and evenings, so bring a jacket even in summer. Baotou shaomai, hand-held mutton, oat noodles and Yellow River carp are all worth trying.

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