Weekend Trip/Beijing to Ulanqab Self-Drive 2 Days 1 Night Guide

Self-Drive Route: Five people, departing from Shijingshan District, Beijing on Saturday morning, driving north along the Jingzang Expressway, passing through mountainous areas like Badaling and Guanting. The total distance is about 300 kilometers, and the estimated driving time is around 4 hours. We arrived in Jining City around noon, found a restaurant for lunch, and in the afternoon, we headed to the volcanoes. We only visited Volcano No. 6 and No. 3, but only No. 6 was fun. Climbing No. 3 led to a large platform, with the volcano crater below the platform. However, the platform was a good spot for photos. Volcano suits can be rented, and you can also rent lambs for photos. Firework sticks range from ten to twenty yuan, with the cheaper ones lasting shorter, from 40 seconds to over a minute. So, make sure to take photos quickly. The smoke looks good but is very choking, so it's recommended to bring a mask. After climbing the volcanoes, we headed to the grasslands near Huanghuagou to find accommodation because we planned to visit the grasslands in the morning and the museum in the afternoon the next day before returning to Beijing. On the way, we could see the sunset and evening glow. We stayed in a Zhongqi tribe, which is a collection of many Mongolian yurt homestays. They provide meals and fireworks, and some even have bonfire activities at night. All expenses will be listed at the end. The next morning, we took some photos on the grasslands next to Huanghuagou. It was a bit cloudy and windy, so we didn't go inside Huanghuagou, which reportedly has a ticket price of 285 yuan. After taking some photos on the grasslands, we headed back to the city for lunch. After lunch, we visited the Ulanqab Museum, which is next to the library. The museum has only two floors, with a small but distinctive collection. It takes about 0.5-1 hour to visit, no reservation needed, just swipe your ID card to enter. If you don't have an ID, you can register. Travel Clothing: I brought two sets of clothes, two different colored jackets, one pair of long pants, one pair of shorts, and two short-sleeved shirts. It was indeed a bit chilly at night, around ten degrees on the grasslands. If it's windy, it feels even colder. Jackets are stylish and don't affect photos in the wind. Of course, girls can choose brighter colored clothes and skirts for photos, but it's also recommended to bring a jacket for warmth and cool photos. Accommodation: We chose the tribal type, which is much better than the Mongolian yurts. It has air conditioning, so no need to worry about the cold at night. There is also a water heater (though the water pressure is indeed lower, but it's better than not being able to shower). The rooms have standard rooms, triple rooms, or five-person kang beds. The cost is two to three hundred yuan per night, much cheaper than booking online platforms. So, it's recommended to choose and then ask for the price offline. Meals: Lunch was in the city, with hand-grabbed meat, oat noodles, yogurt, and various dishes. On the grasslands, the first choice is authentic beef and lamb. Dinner was at the accommodation, with roasted lamb ribs, fried eggs, and daylily. After dinner, there was a bonfire in the yard, with a camping table set up for drinking, snacks, and watching fireworks. The next day's breakfast was steamed buns and rice porridge at the accommodation, and lunch was ice-boiled lamb hotpot in the city. Expenses: Five people, one car, a family sedan. The total fuel and toll costs for two days were about 1K yuan, averaging 200 yuan per person. For an SUV, the fuel cost might be higher but not by much. Personally, I feel it's much more convenient and cost-effective than taking the high-speed train and then renting a car. Meal Costs: Saturday lunch and dinner + Sunday breakfast and lunch, totaling over 1.2K yuan, averaging over 200 yuan per person, which is also very cheap. Accommodation Costs: Standard room over 200 yuan, triple kang bed over 200 yuan, averaging seventy to over one hundred yuan per person. The total cost for five people was around 600 yuan per person. Compared to previously finding carpooling and paying for fuel and tolls, which cost six to seven hundred yuan, this is very cost-effective. Additionally, having reliable, polite, and considerate travel companions really adds to the trip.