Hulunbuir Grand Loop
A grassland and forest loop starting in Hailar, taking in Hulun Lake, Manzhouli, the Argun border river, Shiwei, the Mohe forest district and Arxan.
The Hulunbuir Grand Loop starts and ends in Hailar and covers about 2,000 kilometers, linking grasslands, border rivers, forests and volcanic lakes. A common clockwise route runs west from Hailar via Hulun Lake to the Manzhouli border crossing. From there, follow the Sino-Russian border road north through Erka Wetland and Heishantou to Shiwei, a Russian ethnic township. Then enter the Mohe forest district of the Greater Khingan Range, pass Genhe, and return to Argun, with its wetlands and birch forests. Continue along the Morgel River grasslands back to Hailar. The southern route runs via Yakeshi and Zalantun to Arxan, with Heavenly Lake, Azalea Lake and Shitanglin, and then back to Hailar.
The border road from Manzhouli to Shiwei follows the Argun River. On the left are grasslands, and on the right are Russian villages across the river. This is the most spectacular stretch of the whole route. The Morgel River is known as the “First Winding River under Heaven.” Shiwei and Enhe have Russian-style log cabins, lieba bread and borscht.
Allow 7–10 days. Some sections of the border road are narrow second-class roads, with cattle often on the road, so avoid driving at night. Petrol stations are scarce in the forest districts. July and August are peak season, when accommodation is tight. June and September have fewer mosquitoes. The route can be extended north to Genhe, Manguigui and the Arctic Village of Mohe.