Hohhot City Area

Capital of Inner Mongolia, where Dazhao Temple and Inner Mongolia Museum meet shaomai dumplings and hand-held mutton — the gateway city to the Xilamuren and Huitengxile grasslands.

Hohhot, capital of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, means "Blue City" in Mongolian. It lies on the Tumochuan Plain at the southern foot of the Daqing Mountains, backed by the Yin Mountains to the north with the Yellow River to the south. In the Ming dynasty, Altan Khan, leader of the Tümed Mongols, built the city of Guihua here; in the Qing dynasty the city of Suiyuan was built to the northeast, and the two merged into today's Hohhot, nicknamed the "City of Monasteries" for its many lamaseries. The heart of sightseeing is the old town in Yuquan District: the three monasteries of Dazhao, Xilitu Zhao and the Five Pagoda Temple, plus Saishang Old Street and the Great Mosque, are 10–15 minutes' walk apart and can be linked in half a day — and breakfast of shaomai with salty milk tea around Dazhao is the most authentic way to start. In the newer part of town, Inner Mongolia Museum is a must for understanding grassland civilization and seeing dinosaur fossils; allow half a day. In the southern outskirts is the Wang Zhaojun Museum (Zhaojun's Tomb). For the grasslands, Xilamuren Grassland, about 90 km north of the city (administratively part of Darhan Muminggan Joint Banner, Baotou), is the closest and best set up for visitors; Chilechuan Grassland at the foot of the Daqing Mountains on the northern edge of the city suits a half-day trip; and the more expansive Huitengxile Grassland lies toward Ulanqab. The best season is Jun–Sep, when the grass turns green and temperatures are 20–28°C, with Naadam and other events concentrated in Jul–Aug; winters are bitterly cold, with lows below −20°C. Getting there: Baita International Airport is about 15 km from the city; high-speed trains from Hohhot East reach Beijing in about 2.5–3 hours and Baotou in about 1 hour; Metro Lines 1 and 2 connect the old town, the new town and Hohhot East Station. Plan on 2–3 days (1 day for the city's monasteries and museum, 1–2 days on the grasslands), and consider heading west to Baotou and Ordos for a loop. Signature foods include shaomai, hand-held mutton, mutton offal soup and oat noodles. The grasslands have big day–night temperature swings, so pack a jacket and sun protection; for horse riding, choose a licensed stable and wear protective gear. Check official sources for ticket prices.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries