Duolun & Site of Xanadu

Gateway to the Jinlianchuan Grassland and the World Heritage Site of Xanadu, where Duolun Lake, the Shanxi Guild Hall and Huizong Temple tell stories of the Mongol Yuan and of the Qing in Inner Mongolia.

Duolun and the Site of Xanadu lie at the southernmost tip of Xilingol League, Inner Mongolia, covering Duolun County and the neighbouring town of Shangdu in Zhenglan Banner. Set on the Bashang Plateau, the area is about a 4-hour drive from Beijing. In the 13th century Kublai Khan built his upper capital, Shangdu (Xanadu), on the Jinlianchuan Grassland, and the Site of Xanadu was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012. In the Qing dynasty, the Kangxi Emperor held a congress with the Khalkha tribes at Dolon Nor and ordered the building of Huizong and Shanyin temples; Duolun then grew into a major hub for merchants trading with Mongolia along the Tea Road. A visit splits into two parts. In Duolun town, Huizong Temple, Shanyin Temple, the Shanxi Guild Hall, the mosque and the old town streets, plus Duolun Lake on the southeastern outskirts, can fill a day. About 30 km west in Zhenglan Banner, the Site of Xanadu and its museum and the Jinlianchuan Grassland take most of a day, and to the north the Hunshandak Sandy Land offers off-road driving on the dunes. The climate is mid-temperate and semi-arid, with cool summers (July averages about 19°C). June–September is the best time to visit, with globeflowers blooming in July; winters are long and bitterly cold. Sights are spread out and public transport is limited, so self-driving or hiring a car with driver is recommended; allow 2 days. Sunshine on the grassland is intense and mornings and evenings are cool, so bring sun protection and warm layers.

Top sights

• Site of Xanadu – The ruins of the summer capital of the Yuan dynasty founded by Kublai Khan. The palace city, imperial city, and outer city are clearly laid…
• Site of Xanadu Museum – A themed museum south of the ruins, using artifacts, models, and multimedia to reconstruct the city of Yuan Shangdu and the system of imper…
• Jinlianchuan Grassland – A meadow grassland along the banks of the Shandian River, covered in golden globeflowers in summer. It was where Yuan emperors once escaped…
• Hunshandake (Otindag) Sandy Land – One of China's ten largest deserts and sandy lands, with dunes dotted by sand elm woodlands, lakes and meadows, and the closest desert for…
• Duolun Lake – A highland lake on the upper Luan River, ringed by grassland, sandy land and mountains, whose wetland boardwalks and boat rides make it a s…
• Huizong Temple – The first imperial Tibetan Buddhist temple in southern Mongolia, founded by imperial decree after Emperor Kangxi's Duolun Assembly. Commonl…
• Shanyin Temple – An imperial temple built during the Yongzheng era for Changkya Hutuktu. Commonly called the Yellow Temple, it is one of Duolun's two great…
• Duolun Shanxi Guild Hall – A Shanxi merchant guild hall built during the Qianlong era. Its opera stage and Guandi Temple are well preserved, reflecting the prosperity…
• Duolun North Mosque – A Chinese-style mosque built in the mid-Qing period, with a traditional timber main hall, reflecting the history of Hui merchants in Dolon…
• Dolon Nor Old Town – The old town of Dolon Nor, the Qing-era 'trading port of southern Mongolia,' where guild halls, temples and a reconstructed ancient-style s…

Where to eat

• Xilaishun Classic Hot Pot Shabu (Huimeng Branch) – A long-established copper-pot hotpot restaurant in Duolun County, specializing in grassland lamb, with hand-held mutton…

Itineraries

• Xanadu, Xilingol & Ulagai Loop from Beijing – Head north from Beijing to the Site of Xanadu and Xilinhot, venture east into the pristine Ulagai Grassland, and return…