Hohhot Travel Guide: How to Plan a Trip to the Capital of Inner Mongolia
Hohhot has been the capital of Inner Mongolia since 1954. It is located in the central part of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, with an overall elevation of around 1050 meters above sea level. Since having been a crossroads of Central Plains and grassland cultures throughout history, Hohhot is where you can see a fascinating blend of grassland culture, Yellow River culture, nomadic civilization, and agrarian civilization.
Whether you want to immerse in the grassland scenery, experience authentic nomadic life and activities, or explore intriguing history, you won’t want to miss Hohhot. Our aim of this Hohhot Travel Guide is to introduce you to this magic region we believe should be on your Inner Mongolia travel list.
Chinese: 呼和浩特
Location: Central Inner Mongolia, The capital city of Inner Mongolia
Population (urban area): 3,551,000
Why Visit Hohhot?
- Natural Beauty and Grassland Charm: Hohhot is the gateway to many stunning grasslands in Inner Mongolia. Huitengxile, Gegentala, and Xilamuren are some of the most beautiful grasslands in the country, offering not only breathtaking views but also many traditional activities and authentic nomadic life experiences.
- Deep Historical & Cultural Heritage: The history of Hohhot can be traced back to the Warring State periods when King Wuling of Zhao ordered the construction of the Great Wall here. And the continuous interaction between Central Plains and ethnic groups on the grassland has endowed the city with a great number of historical and cultural sites. Zhaojun Tomb, Dazhao Temple, Zhao Great Wall, and the Inner Mongolia Museum are some of the best attractions to explore its splendid culture and history.
- Unique Folk Culture: The diverse ethnic makeup of Hohhot enriches it with a diverse range of folk cultural experiences. You can walk into some Mongolian ethnic villages to experience their traditional daily life, or learn to play the horse-head fiddle and make dairy products, try on Mongolian costumes, etc.
Top Tourist Attractions in Hohhot
Top Things to Do
Stay a Night in the Mongolian Yurt on the Grassland
The vast grasslands will offer breathtaking sceneries and a wide range of outdoor activities, and staying in a Mongolian yurt is highly recommended for your immersive and leisure experience. The yurt itself is a unique accommodation experience that you can’t find anywhere else.
More than just accommodation, a Mongolian yurt stay will offer you a close touch of Mongolian culture, from cuisine, clothing, and daily customs, to bonfire parties and ethnic dances.
The Mongolia yurt will also allow you intimate contact with the tranquil night views on the vast grassland, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. And, reward you with stunning photo opportunities of stunning sunrise and sunset over the grassland.
Experience Hohhot Nightlife at Saishang Old Street
If you want to experience the most vibrant nightlife in Hohhot and taste diverse Mongolian dishes, then go to Sai Shang Old Street. Just adjacent to the Da Zhao Temple in Hohhot city center, Sai Shang Old Street is a famous pedestrian street rich in history, culture, and local characteristics.
Both sides of the street are lined up with various restaurants and shops of ancient architectural style. As night falls, the numerous snack stalls, handicraft shops and souvenir stores will light up the street, attracting tourists seeking authentic grassland flavors and exquisite handicrafts.
Taste Mongolian Food
Hohhot food is known for its rich Mongolian flavors which uniquely blend the rugged grassland culture and Han Chinese cooking techniques.
Due to the cold climate in Inner Mongolia, mutton with warming and nourishing properties holds a more important position compared to beef. That’s why more local signature dishes are prepared with mutton. And various dairy products like milk tea, butter tea, and cheese are very popular among locals.
Below are some recommended delicacies when visiting Hohhot during your Inner Mongolia travel:
- Inner Mongolian Shaomai: With thin skin and fillings of lamb and green onions, it’s a popular breakfast.
- Hand-held Meat: Have the high-quality lamb simply cooked and served with special seasonings.
- Roasted Whole Lamb: Featuring golden and crispy, tender and juicy inside.
- Beizi (Baked Pastries): Similar to baked buns, is a popular daily snack.
- Zecheng Ice-cooked Lamb: Simmer the lamb with ice cubes, featuring tender and unique flavor.
Which Grasslands around Hohhot to Choose?
There are a few popular grasslands near Hohhot, and each of them offers traditional Mongolian activities like horseback riding and archery. Regarding which one to choose for your Hohhot tour, the following information may help you make an easy decision.
Huitengxile Grassland
- Distance to Hohhot: About 110 km to Hohhot, relatively far
- Features & Scenery: An alpine meadow grassland with an altitude of 2100 meters, with high-quality grass. Home to many natural lakes, and offers boasts a landscape covered with small yellow flowers. Visitors can enjoy wind farms (large windmills) at Yellow Flowers Valley. Less developed, with a relatively primitive natural environment.
- Activities & Cultural Experience: Grassland miniature train, or cable car. Watch the cultural performance “Meeting at the Aobao”.
Gegentala Grassland
- Distance to Hohhot: About 128 km to Hohhot, 2 hours’ drive.
- Feature and Scenery: Rich Mongolian cultural atmosphere, and folk customs. Often hosts Nadam festivals.
- Activities & Cultural Experience: Has more mature tourism development, offering more ethnic cultural activities. Hosts a grand temple fair and Aobao worship ceremony annually.
Xilamuren Grassland
- Distance to Hohhot: About 90 km, suitable for people who want to experience grassland culture in a limited time.
- Feature and Scenery: Belongs to a desertified grassland, thus the grass here is not as lush as the other two. Features a vast expanse, larger than the other two.
- Activities & Cultural Experience: Offers complete tourist facilities; off-road vehicle experiences, take hot air balloon rides across the terrain. Can watch the cultural performance “Legend of the Desert South”.
Hohhot Weather and Best Time to Visit
Hohhot falls under a temperate continental climate, featuring distinct four seasons. Generally, its winters are long and cold, summers are short and warm, and springs and autumns often see dramatic weather transitions.
The region experiences large diurnal and annual temperature differences throughout the year, with its summer temperatures hovering around 22°C, and winter temperatures ranging from -15°C to -20°C.
The annual precipitation is relatively low and mostly concentrated in the summer. Springs are especially dry, and often encounter dust storms.
Typically, May to October is the best time to travel to Hohhot when it experiences pleasant weather and offers lush grasslands. June to September is especially recommended when the grasslands are at their lushest and most vibrant. Autumn is a great time to visit desert areas, being accompanied by clear skies and mild weather.
Good to know: Considering the large temperature differences between day and night on the grasslands and deserts, packing accordingly with suitable warm clothing is necessary even on summer days.
Hohhot Transportation
How to Get to
By air: Visitors can fly to Hohhot through Hohhot Baita International Airport, which is a major transportation hub in Inner Mongolia. Currently, the airport offers flights to/from major domestic destinations, like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Urumqi, and Xian.
By train: Hohhot has two train stations, which are Hohhot Station and Hohhot East Station. Both of these two stations offer high-speed trains and regular trains to/from major domestic cities like Beijing, Chengdu, Lanzhou, Xi’an, etc. And both of these two stations have subway lines connecting the city center.
How to Travel around
Currently, Hohhot offers two subway lines connecting the east-west and east-south of the city. There are over 40 bus routes connecting major attractions, commercial districts, and residential areas of the city.
For more flexibility, visitors can take a taxi to travel around the city at a very affordable price.
