Eco-tour in east Inner Mongolia

(chinadaily.com.cn)

Updated: 2015-06-29

	Chifeng, or Ulanhad in the Mongolian language, is a prefecture-level city in southeastern Inner Mongolia, at the convergence of Inner Mongolia, Liaoning and Hebei. Its southern extremity is 315 kilometers from downtown Beijing. The city has a total administrative area of 90,000 square kilometers and a population of 4 million (in 2010). It enjoys a semi-dry continental monsoon climate, with long, cold, windy winters and short, hot, humid summers. The best times to visit the city are from June to September.
	According to archeological studies, human existence in the city can be traced back almost ten thousand years, and the cultural history can be traced back nearly eight thousand years. The representative ruins and relics of Hongshan Culture, Grassland Bronze Culture, Qindan Nationality-Liao Culture and Mongolian-Yuan Culture have been discovered in Chifeng. Attractions: Hexigten Global Geopark, Yulong Sand Lake, etc.
	Chifeng Coach Station is close to Chifeng Railway Station, from where visitors can travel to more than 20 cities including Beijing, Shenyang, Tianjin and Shijiazhuang. The whole journey takes six hours from Beijing to Chifeng. Chifeng Railway Station is located in the south of the city. Trains depart for major cities in Northeast China and North China. Yulong Airport in Chifeng is situated on the southwest outskirts. Most flights travel to Beijing and Hohhot and others operate between Chifeng and Shanghai, Tianjin, Shenyang, Dalian, Kunming among others. >>>

Hulunbuir, with a population of 2.7 million, is a prefecture-level city in northeast Inner Mongolia autonomous region.It adjoins Heilongjiang province and shares borders with Mongolia and Russia. Hailar district is the administrative center. The city spans an area of 253,000 square kilometers, with 80,000-square-kilometer grasslands, 110,000-square-kilometer virgin forest, more than 3,000 rivers and 500 lakes. The Greater Khingan Range stretches through Hulunbuir from north to south.
Hulunbuir is situated in the continental climate zone, with cool short summers and long chilly winters. The best time to visit is from May to September, when the weather is the most pleasant. The famous Hulunbuir Prairie is one of the largest and best-preserved grasslands in the world. It's like a giant carpet of green, dotted with white yurts, herds of cattle and sheep and winding rivers and lakes. Visitors can try many activities – roam around riding horses, camels or grassland carts, paddle a boat and angle on the lakes, or hunt in a nearby forest. Attractions: Eergu'Na Wetland, Hulunbuir Prairie, Genhe Origin National Wetland Park, etc.	??
Hailar Airport is 7 km from the city’s downtown area. Every week, there are flights that connect Hulun Buir with Beijing, Shanghai, Hohhot, Shenyang, Dalian, Harbin, and Tianjin. The main railway station is the Hailar Railway Station. Tourists can get to Hulun Buir by train from Beijing, Harbin, Hohhot, Baotou, Datong and Dalian. Hailar Coach Station, near the Hailar Railway Station, is the most convenient. Buses commute between Hailar and Manzhouli, Arxan, Mordaga as well as Harbin every day. >>>

	Hinggan League is in the northeastern area of Inner Mongolian autonomous region in the neighborhood of Mongolia, Heilongjiang and Jinlin provinces. Hinggan League enjoys a temperate monsoon climate with two-month cool summer and five-month chilly winter. April to October is the most favorable time to visit the region.
?	Hinggan League is rich in tourist resources. Forest landscape of the Greater Khingan Mountains and Qarsan (Chaersen) National Forest Park, strong flavor of the Mongolian ethnic group in Keerqin Grassland and Genghis Khan Temple show the best natural and historical beauty of Hinggan League. Arxan is a city with mountain and water tourist resorts. Volcano and Warm Spring National Geopark has hot mineral springs of healing qualities. Tianchi Lake in the geopark is a crater lake formed by a volcano. In winter, the Arxan Skiing Resort is an impressive destination. In Hinggan, traditional Mongol foods such as milk tea and roast lamb are very popular. Attractions: Arxan National Forest Park, Big Gorge, Heavenly Lake on Camel Hump Mountain, Dujuan Lake, Rose Peak, etc.
	Ulanhot Airport is 17 kilometers northwest of the city proper, with direct flights to nearby cities, such as Beijing and Hohhot. Baicheng-Arxan and Tongliao-Hulinhe railways pass through Hinggan League. Two national highways 111 and 302 run through the league from the south to the north.? >>>

Tongliao is a prefecture-level city in eastern Inner Mongolian autonomous region, with an area of 60,000 square kilometers and a population of 3.18 million. It is at the convergence of Northeast China and North China. Enjoying a temperate continental climate, Tongliao has dry and windy spring, short and hot summer, cool autumn and chilly winter. Beauty of the sceneries in spring, summer and autumn may cater for different aesthetic needs.
Tongliao is abundant in natural tourism resources, ranging from grasslands, forest, lakes to mountains and desert. Now, grasslands culture-oriented travel, integrating grassland and forest landscape, history and national customs, attracts increasing tourists. Attractions: Keerqin Grassland, Xiaozhuang Cultural Tourism Zone, Daqinggou Ecological Tour Zone, Xingyuan Temple, etc.
Tongliao Coach Station is located in Nanshun Avenue, Horqin district. You can reach Tongliao in 4 hours from Jilin and 5 hours from Shenyang. The way from downtown Tongliao to the Horqin Grassland costs two hours. Trains run through all counties in Tongliao. In addition, trains from the Tongliao Railway Station travel to lots of cities, like Beijing, Tianjin, Hangzhou, Shenyang, Haerbin, Dalian and Shanghai. Tongliao Airport is 7 kilometers southwest of the downtown area.The airport dispatches four flights a week to Beijing and one flight every day to Hohhot.	??