Xilingol League 3-Day Guide: Galloping Horses Across Paradise Grasslands

"Under the vast sky, wild winds ripple through the grass, revealing cattle and sheep" — Xilingol League boasts China's most pristine natural grasslands. The Site of Xanadu is Inner Mongolia's only UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ujimqin Grassland, Wulagai Grassland, and the Nine-Bend Xilin River — this is the true nomadic paradise.

🚶 Day 1: Site of Xanadu + Jinlianchuan Grassland

Morning: Site of Xanadu (UNESCO World Heritage)

Site of Xanadu (¥60): The first capital built by Kublai Khan of the Mongol Empire. Marco Polo visited here and described it as a "breathtaking marble palace painted with gold and decorated with carved birds, animals, flowers and trees." Inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage in 2012. The site includes three concentric city walls — Palace City, Imperial City, and Outer City. Climb the Da'an Pavilion ruins for panoramic views of Jinlianchuan Grassland
Site Museum (included in ticket): Displays unearthed artifacts and a full panorama of Yuan Dynasty history. Worth spending 1 hour here

Afternoon: Jinlianchuan Grassland

Jinlianchuan Grassland (free): Surrounding the Site of Xanadu, this grassland bursts with golden lotus flowers in July-August, creating a golden carpet stretching to the horizon
Horseback Riding: ¥100-200/hour with local herdsmen guiding you across the open plains
Yurt Lunch: Hand-grabbed mutton ¥68/portion, Mongolian milk tea ¥15/pot, milk skin ¥20/portion

Evening: Zhenglan Banner Town

Dinner recommendations: Roasted lamb leg ¥128/portion, Mongolian milk tea hotpot ¥88/pot
Accommodation: Zhenglan Banner guesthouses ¥200-350/night

🚶 Day 2: Ujimqin Grassland + Mongol Khan City

Morning: West Ujimqin Grassland

Ujimqin Grassland (free): One of China's most fertile grasslands, featuring meadow grassland, forest grassland, classic steppe, sparse forest steppe, and desert steppe — see every type of grassland in one day
Genghis Khan Observation Mountain (¥30): 360° panoramic views of the vast Ujimqin Grassland from the summit

Afternoon: Mongol Khan City

Mongol Khan City (¥80): Originally a film set, now a Mongolian cultural experience center featuring horse racing, Bökh (Mongolian wrestling), and archery performances
Naadam Performances (summer): Traditional Mongolian sports demonstrations every afternoon, free to watch
Bonfire Party (every summer evening): Mongolian singing, dancing, and morin khuur (horse-head fiddle) performances — passionate and energetic

Dinner & Accommodation

Roasted Whole Lamb: ¥1200-1800 per lamb (serves 10) — the highest honor on the grassland
Hand-Grabbed Mutton (Shouba Rou): ¥58-88/portion — Ujimqin sheep are incredibly tender, boiled in plain water to showcase the natural flavor
Accommodation: Yurt stay ¥300-500/night (includes breakfast and dinner)

🚶 Day 3: Xilin River Nine-Bend Bay + Beizi Temple

Morning: Xilin River Nine-Bend Bay

Xilin River Nine-Bend Bay (free): The Xilin River winds through the grassland creating nine spectacular bends. Sunrise and sunset create magical light and shadow — a photographer's paradise
Pingdingshan Volcano Group (¥20): Volcanic remains south of Xilinhot, with flat-topped mountains resembling tables

Afternoon: Xilinhot City

Beizi Temple (free): Built during the Qing Dynasty Qianlong era, one of the Four Great Temples of Inner Mongolia, a Gelug sect Tibetan Buddhist monastery
Beizi Temple Food Street: The liveliest food street in town with all kinds of Mongolian specialty snacks
E'erdun Oboo (free): Xilinhot landmark — climb to the top for panoramic city views

Departure

Flights: Xilinhot → Beijing (1.5h, ¥500-900), → Hohhot (1h, ¥300-500)
Train: Xilinhot → Beijing (K3, ~10h sleeper, ¥200-350)
Driving: Beijing → Xilinhot ~600km (G207/G1013), 6-7 hours through stunning grassland scenery
Private car hire: ¥500-800/day locally, recommended for deep grassland exploration

🍜 Must-Eat Food Guide

Food	Price	Description
Hand-Grabbed Mutton (Shouba Rou)	¥58-88/portion	Ujimqin sheep boiled in plain water, dipped in salt — pure flavor
Roasted Whole Lamb	¥1200-1800/lamb	Serves 10, the highest grassland honor
Roasted Lamb Leg	¥128/portion	Crispy outside, tender inside
Mongolian Milk Tea	¥15/pot	Salty, served with roasted millet and milk skin
Milk Skin (Naipi)	¥20/portion	Cream skimmed from boiled milk, sweet and rich
Milk Tofu (Naidoufu)	¥10/piece	Traditional Mongolian dairy product
Dried Cheese	¥15/bag	Air-dried cheese, great as souvenirs
Milk Tea Hotpot	¥88/pot	Lamb cooked in milk tea broth — unique!
Blood Sausage	¥35/portion	Sheep blood sausage, grassland specialty
Roasted Millet (Chaomi)	¥10/bowl	Roasted broomcorn millet, paired with milk tea
Air-Dried Beef	¥50-80/jin	Grassland specialty, easy to carry home

🚄 Transport Guide

Flights: Xilinhot Airport has direct flights to Beijing and Hohhot
Train: Xilinhot → Beijing (K3, ~10h sleeper ¥200-350)
Driving: Beijing → Xilinhot ~600km (G207/G1013), 6-7 hours, scenic grassland drive
Private Car: ¥500-800/day locally, recommended for reaching deep grassland sites

💡 Practical Tips

Best Season: June-September (July-August for golden lotus blooms and Naadam Festival)
Temperature Swings: Daytime 30°C+, nights can drop to 10°C — bring warm layers
Sun Protection: Strong UV on the grassland — SPF50+ sunscreen, sunglasses, and hat essential
Accommodation: Yurt stays highly recommended; book early for July-August peak season
Budget: ¥800-1500/person/day (accommodation + food + tickets + horse riding)
Naadam Festival: Held annually in July-August in West Ujimqin Banner — horse racing, wrestling, archery
Mobile Signal: Weak in deep grassland areas — download offline maps in advance
Cultural Etiquette: Don't step on the threshold when entering a yurt; receive drinks with your right hand