Enjoy Ulaanqab's winter wonderland just west of Beijing

Travel Guide:

Ulaanqab in Inner Mongolia lies 354 kilometers to the northwest of Beijing. There are nearly 40 high-speed and bullet train lines connecting Beijing to Ulaanqab, offering travelers the flexibility to choose based on their schedules and preferences. A mere 2-hour train journey transports you to this enchanting destination. Many major scenic spots, such as grasslands and volcanoes, are located some distance from the city center, so renting or hiring a car locally is recommended and easy to arrange.

There are seven travel routes we recommend to you:

1. Self-Driving Photography Tour

Jining Dahewan Ski Resort — Qahar Right Wing Red Banner Homestay Cluster — Ulaanhada Volcano Geopark — Jinshishan Glacier Stone Forest Geopark — Siziwang Banner Red Cliff Tableland

2. Leisure Shopping Tour

Chahanying Ski Resort — Yongliang Hot Spring Water World — Jining Ancient City — Ulaanqab Night Market — Jining International Leather City

3. Fishing Tour

Jining Dahewan Ski Resort — Yongliang Hot Spring Water World — Qar Lake Ecological Tourism Area — Longxing Ceramic Garden — Anzhi and Sheep Camping Area

4. Culinary Experience Tour

Binhe Kanglyu Resort Area — Ulaanqab Night Market— Qahar Ancient Street — Moonlight Town — Beiguan Yisu Hotel

5. Red Tourism Educational Tour 

Ulaanqab Museum — Ulaanqab Science and Technology Museum — Chahanying Ski Resort — Yunduo Gaqaa Study Base — Jining Battle Red Memorial Park — Pingsui Railway Red Culture Heritage Theme Park — Hongshiya Ecological Tourism Area

6. Hot Spring Wellness Tour

Liangcheng Ski Resort — Mapao Hot Spring Hotel— Wandeng Hot Spring Homestay — Hongmao Medicinal Wine Museum — Linhu Gusai Tourism Resort

7. Folk Culture Tour

The Nancun village of Qahar Right Wing Front Banner — Fengzhen Longshengzhuang Ancient Town — Zhuozi county Lantern Carnival — Qahar Right Wing Rear Banner Fire Ritual

Major scenic spots

Ulaanhada Volcano Geopark

Address: Qahar Right Wing Rear Banner, Ulaanqab, Inner Mongolia autonomous region

The Ulaanhada volcanic cluster is the only known Holocene volcanic site on the southern edge of the Mongolian Plateau to have erupted, featuring a large eruption scale, varied eruption types, and well-preserved formations with minimal erosion. It also has a volcanic dammed lake, making it a natural "volcano museum" of significant scientific and educational value.

Sumu Mountain Forest Park

Address: Xinghe county, Ulaanqab, Inner Mongolia autonomous region

The Sumu Mountain is the largest man-made forest in North China, with an average elevation of 1,682.32 meters. Its peak, Huangshi Cliff, reaches 2,334.7 meters, making it the highest point in Ulaanqab. The mountain spans about 18,000 hectares, with around 13,700 hectares of forest.

Red Cliff Tableland

Address: Siziwang Banner, Ulaanqab, Inner Mongolia autonomous region

The Red Cliff Tableland, also known locally as "Big Red Mountain", is an important part of the Siziwang National Geopark. The mountain's red appearance is a characteristic example of Danxia landform.

Ski resorts

Daihai International Ski Resort

Address: Liangcheng county, Ulaanqab, Inner Mongolia autonomous region

With an elevation between 1,600 and 2,100 meters, the resort sits in a sub-plateau zone ideal for high-altitude training for professional athletes. Covering a total area of 400,000 square meters, the resort offers 12 ski trails of varying levels (advanced, intermediate, and beginner), meeting the needs of all competition levels.

Dahewan Ski Resort

Address: Jining district, Ulaanqab, Inner Mongolia autonomous region

Dahewan Ski Resort is a comprehensive, year-round tourism destination, offering skiing, recreational sports, eco-tourism, practical training, skills development, RV camping, hot spring hotels, and winter and summer camps.

Hot spring resorts

Yongliang Hot Spring Water World

Address: Jining district, Ulaanqab, Inner Mongolia autonomous region

Yongliang Hot Spring Water World is a leisure destination offering hot springs, baths, entertainment, fitness, and therapeutic saunas. It draws pure natural spring water rich in minerals and trace elements beneficial for health, providing a unique therapeutic experience for body and mind.

Mapao Hot Spring Hotel

Address: Liangcheng county, Ulaanqab, Inner Mongolia autonomous region

Mapao hot spring, one of Inner Mongolia’s four major springs, is known for its large reserves, high water quality, high water temperature and long history. The natural spring water reaches a temperature of 70 C and is rich in metasilicic acid, along with trace elements beneficial to health.

Local cuisine

Hand-Served Mutton

Shouba rou, or "Hand-Served Mutton", is Ulaanqab’s signature dish for welcoming guests from afar. Prepared with premium mutton from the grasslands, the meat is scored, simmered in cold water with a touch of salt for flavor. Once cooked, the meat is cut into small pieces and enjoyed with dipping sauces.

Zhuozishan Smoked Chicken

With its plump size, rich red color, and tender meat, Zhuozishan Smoked Chicken is a famous traditional dish from Ulaanqab. It ranks alongside Dezhou Braised Chicken and Daokou Roasted Chicken as one of China’s three famous chicken dishes.

Oat Dishes

Ulaanqab enjoys an ideal natural condition for oat. Oat flour, known as youmian in Chinese, is one of Ulaanqab’s "three treasures" and a popular traditional whole grain. With creativity and skill, the people of Ulaanqab have developed dozens of unique dishes from this ingredient, including oat noodles and oat rolled dough, each with distinct shapes and flavors.

Fried Glutinous Rice Dough

Fried glutinous rice dough from Ulaanqab is known for its small size, thin skin, and variety of fillings, including options like bean paste, sugar and vegetables.

Mutton Offal Soup

Mutton Offal Soup is a popular nutritious and restorative dish in Ulaanqab. The soup is simmered in a uniquely seasoned bone broth, offering a rich aroma and hearty texture.

Folk culture

Ulaanqab Museum

Address: Jining district, Ulaanqab, Inner Mongolia autonomous region

The Ulaanqab Museum covers an area of 48,570 square meters, with a total building area of 20,716.81 square meters. Alongside relic preservation, it provides various display spaces to promote education and cultural outreach. The museum’s primary exhibits focus on historical artifacts, featuring relics, site photos, and related charts since the Paleolithic era, showcasing the lifestyle, production, and social activities of northern ethnic groups.

Longshengzhuang Ancient Town

Address: Fengzhen city, Ulaanqab, Inner Mongolia autonomous region

Longshengzhuang, located along the Great Wall at the intersection of Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, and Hebei, once flourished as a tea trading center and a hub for camel and horse transport. Designated as one of China’s first traditional villages in 2012, it was recognized as a historic and cultural town in 2014.

Qahar Right Wing Rear Banner Fire Ritual

Address: Qahar Right Wing Rear Banner, Ulaanqab, Inner Mongolia autonomous region

The Chinese traditional festival of Little New Year also marks the Mongolian tradition of Fire Worshipping Day. For the Mongolian people, fire symbolizes purity and embodies the spirit of deities. Through the "fire worshipping" ceremony, they bless the New Year, pray for family well-being and good harvests, and welcome the arrival of spring.

Shopping

Jining International Leather City

Address: Jining district, Ulaanqab, Inner Mongolia autonomous region

Jining International Leather City has a building area of 250,000 square meters, housing 2,000 standard shops. It also includes a grand complex offering dining, accommodation, entertainment, shopping and leisure services.

Ulaanqab Night Market

Address: Qahar Right Wing Front Banner, Ulaanqab, Inner Mongolia autonomous region

The Ulaanqab Night Market is a new nightlife destination that blends elements of traditional charm, smart night tours, interactive art installations, and scenic photo spots, creating a landmark that embodies regional character and cultural appeal. It features 13 themed performance stages, 21 interactive photo spots, 80 shops, and two large event plazas.