Inner Mongolia is incredibly beautiful, but I honestly don’t recommend going in October because...........

In-depth travel guide to Inner Mongolia: Explore the grasslands and deserts starting at 1000 RMB per person Inner Mongolia, this vast land, weaves together natural landscapes such as grasslands, deserts, lakes, and volcanoes, along with the rich cultural fusion of Mongolian, Han, and other ethnic groups, creating a colorful tapestry. Below is a comprehensive travel guide covering transportation, accommodation, attractions, food, and tips to avoid pitfalls, helping you plan your trip efficiently. 1. Transportation Costs and Methods 1. External Transportation Airplane: Fly from major cities like Beijing and Shanghai to Hohhot Baita International Airport, with one-way tickets costing about 500-1000 RMB, and flight time of 2-3 hours. From the airport to the city, you can take the airport shuttle bus (25 RMB/person) or a taxi (about 50 RMB). Train: Hard sleeper tickets from Beijing to Hohhot cost about 200-300 RMB, taking 8-10 hours; second-class high-speed train tickets cost about 150-200 RMB, taking 4-5 hours. Long-distance Bus: Some cities have direct long-distance buses to Hohhot, costing about 200-300 RMB, with longer travel times, suitable for budget travelers. 2. Internal Transportation Chartered car/Carpool: Inner Mongolia’s attractions are scattered, so it’s recommended to charter a car or carpool. A 4-person carpool costs about 200-300 RMB per day, allowing flexible itinerary planning. Public Transport: Hohhot city has a subway and buses, with fares between 1-3 RMB; for nearby attractions, long-distance buses cost about 20-50 RMB. 2. Accommodation Recommendations and Prices 1. Budget Options Fengya Small Hotel in Hohhot: Located in the Danan Street business district, a 10-minute walk to Sai Shang Old Street, computer room starting at 50 RMB, offers luggage storage and free parking. Xinhe Hotel in Hohhot: Near Dazhao Temple, a 5-minute walk, boutique queen rooms starting at 90 RMB, great value. 2. Mid-range Hotels Muzan Hotel (Exhibition Hall Subway Station Bolton Plaza Branch): Near Maoye Mall, good soundproofing, includes smart speakers and giant screen projection, priced around 300-400 RMB/night. Home Inn·neo (Hohhot Museum People's Hall Subway Station Branch): Warm service, modern facilities, priced around 250-350 RMB/night. 3. Unique Stays Grassland Mongolian Yurts: Experience yurt accommodation on Xilamuren Grassland or Huitengxile Grassland, priced around 200-400 RMB/night, including breakfast and bonfire parties. Dalate Banner Hotels: Hotels near Xiangshawan Desert cost about 300-500 RMB/night, convenient for desert sightseeing. 3. Must-Visit Attractions and Tickets 1. Free Attractions Huitengxile Grassland: Plateau wetland grassland, wildflowers in summer, golden in autumn, horse riding and archery available, free admission. Sai Shang Old Street: Historical district in Hohhot with Ming and Qing style architecture, great for photos, free to visit. 2. Paid Attractions Xiangshawan Desert: 5A-level scenic area, tickets start at 120 RMB, includes sand sliding, camel riding, and you can hear the roaring dunes. Dazhao Temple: 4A-level scenic area, ticket 35 RMB, silver Buddha, dragon carvings, and murals worth seeing, experience Tibetan Buddhism culture. Ejina Populus Forest: One of the world’s top 50 autumn viewing spots, ticket 240 RMB, golden poplars in autumn reflecting on the Ruo Shui River. Wulan Hada Volcano Geological Park: Free admission, natural volcano museum, hiking to the crater, great for shooting “Mars” style photos. 4. Food Recommendations and Prices 1. Specialty Snacks Lamb Shaomai: 22-28 RMB/2 pieces, thin skin and large filling, breakfast staple, recommended chains include “Lao Suiyuan” and “Deshunyuan.” Lamb Offal Soup: 20-30 RMB/bowl, a delight for offal lovers, best with chili. Salty Milk Tea: 38-68 RMB/pot, a magical blend of milk essence, fried rice, and milk skin, best shared by 3-4 people. 2. Main Meals Hand-held Meat: 98-158 RMB/jin, boiled lamb in clear water, original flavor, eaten with chive flower sauce. Roast Whole Lamb: 2000-4000 RMB each, the pinnacle of banquets, must be booked in advance; for fewer people, order roast lamb leg (280-450 RMB each) or roast lamb ribs (88-128 RMB/jin). Air-dried Beef: 59-138 RMB/bag, Inner Mongolia specialty, ready to eat or for soup, great as souvenirs. 5. Sample Itinerary 1. Three-day Tour (1000-1500 RMB per person) Day 1: Arrive in Hohhot in the morning, visit Dazhao Temple (35 RMB) and Sai Shang Old Street (free), lunch with lamb shaomai (25 RMB). In the afternoon, go to Huitengxile Grassland (free), try horse riding (50-100 RMB/hour). Dinner in a grassland yurt with hand-held meat (80 RMB per person), overnight in a yurt (200-400 RMB). Day 2: Capture the grassland sunrise early, visit Huanghuagou Grassland Tourism Resort in the morning (ticket 150 RMB), admire the spectacular meteor shower site. Lunch with simple meal in the park (30 RMB), return to Hohhot in the afternoon, dinner with lamb offal soup (25 RMB). Overnight at Muzan Hotel (350 RMB). Day 3: Visit Xiangshawan Desert in the morning (ticket 120 RMB), experience sand sliding and camel riding (100 RMB per person). Lunch with simple meal in the park (30 RMB), return to the city in the afternoon, buy air-dried beef and other specialties (100 RMB per person). Dinner at “Lao Suiyuan” with lamb shaomai (25 RMB), end of trip. 2. Five-day Tour (2000-3000 RMB per person) Day 1-3: Same as the three-day itinerary. Day 4: Fly or take train to Ejina Banner in the morning, visit Ejina Populus Forest in the afternoon (ticket 240 RMB), photograph golden poplars and Ruo Shui River. Dinner with camel meat pie (40 RMB) at a local restaurant, overnight at Ejina Banner hotel (400-600 RMB). Day 5: Capture the poplar forest sunrise early, visit Juyan Lake in the morning (ticket 60 RMB), admire the “Pearl of the Desert” wetland scenery. Lunch with simple meal in the park (30 RMB), return to Hohhot in the afternoon, end of trip. 6. Practical Tips to Avoid Pitfalls Transportation: Attractions are scattered, recommend chartering or carpooling to avoid fatigue from self-driving; beware of unlicensed drivers who may take detours or overcharge. Shopping: Souvenir prices in scenic areas are high, better to buy air-dried beef, milk skin, and other gifts in city supermarkets. Food: Inner Mongolian dishes are large portions, order one less dish per person; roast whole lamb must be booked in advance to avoid waste. Cultural Respect: When visiting Mongolian villages or temples, respect local customs, avoid photographing locals or religious items without permission. Safety Tips: Large temperature differences between day and night on the grasslands, bring warm clothes; wear sand-proof shoe covers when visiting deserts to keep sand out of shoes. The charm of Inner Mongolia lies in the blend of nature and culture. Whether it’s the vast grasslands, magnificent deserts, tempting cuisine, or rich culture, it will leave you enchanted. Take this guide and start your Inner Mongolia journey!