Hexigten (Asihatu & Dali Nur)

A Hexigten grassland loop: the granite stone forest of Asihatu, Huanggangliang forest, the glacial potholes of Qingshan, the sandy-land spruce forest of Baiyin Aobao, swans at Dali Nur and the Gonggeer grassland, staying in Jingpeng or by Dali Lake.

Hexigten Banner is in the northwest of Chifeng, Inner Mongolia, where the southern end of the Greater Khingan Range, the eastern edge of the Hunshandake Sandy Land and the offshoots of the Yanshan Mountains meet. Grassland, forest, sandy land, lakes and granite landforms are concentrated here, and the whole area is recognized as the Hexigten UNESCO Global Geopark.

This destination uses the banner seat, Jingpeng town, as its hub. To the north, the Re–A road runs from the Reshuitang hot springs through Huanggangliang National Forest Park to the Asihatu stone forest. To the west, you pass the sandy-land spruce forest at Baiyin Aobao and the Gonggeer grassland to reach Dali Nur (Dali Lake), with Mantuo Hill and Gangeng Nur beside it. East of Jingpeng are the Qingshan glacial potholes. Sights are mostly 50–100 km apart, so a 2–3 day self-drive loop works well, staying in Jingpeng, Reshui or by Dali Lake.

The best season is Jul–Sep, when the grassland is greenest and wildflowers bloom; from late September to early October the white birch and larch turn gold and the scenery is at its best, though mornings and evenings are already cold. In spring and autumn, large numbers of swans and cranes stop over at Dali Lake. Winter is bitterly cold and most sights are closed.

Getting there: Jingpeng has a station on the Jitong Railway and buses from Chifeng; Chifeng to Jingpeng is about a 3-hour drive. From Beijing it is about 7–8 hours by car, and it is often combined with Ulan Butong (covered under the Saihanba & Weichang destination). The temperature swing between day and night on the grassland is large, so bring a jacket. Most pastures are private grazing land, so do not drive off the road at will. Mountain roads around Asihatu and Huanggangliang have sharp bends, so take care after rain.

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