🍃The summer solstice has passed, and midsummer has begun! If you want to escape the heat and enjoy the cool beauty of the summer grasslands in July and August, then head to Xilingol League, where the average summer temperature is only 17.8~22.9℃! 🌿Here, the vast grasslands stretch endlessly, with tender green pastures, well-fed livestock, winding rivers, crystal-clear lakes, blooming wildflowers competing in beauty, and healing landscapes everywhere!
👒Think Xilingol League is too big and don’t know where to start?
👇Then save these breathtaking destinations!
Part 1️⃣ Summer Grasslands
🍃Recommended spots
✅ Xilingol Grassland
Location: Mainly within Xilinhot City
🌿Xilingol Grassland is one of China’s four major grasslands and a key natural pasture in Inner Mongolia. It features a complex variety of grassland types, including meadow grasslands, typical grasslands, desert grasslands, sandy vegetation, and other types. The diverse grassland scenery is stunningly beautiful!
🌿Within Xilinhot lies the "Inner Mongolia Xilingol Grassland National Nature Reserve," the core area of Xilingol Grassland. The beautiful Xilin River meanders through the grassland, where horses gallop, cattle and sheep roam freely, and pastoral songs echo—each scene is like a poetic painting!
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✅ West Ujimqin Grassland
Location: West Ujimqin Banner
🌿West Ujimqin Grassland is a typical area of Xilingol Grassland, known for its magnificent and splendid scenery. It combines nine types of grasslands found in Inner Mongolia and is also called the "Paradise Grassland." The grassland features endless green pastures, forests, rivers, and authentic traditional nomadic culture, making it unforgettable.
🌿For self-driving travelers, it’s recommended to explore the West Ujimqin Grassland along the "Highway 99" in West Ujimqin Banner. Along the way, you can enjoy grassland views and visit popular spots like Ulan Wutai, Gurigesitai Nature Reserve, and the Nomadic Culture Protection Area. Stay at a herder’s home to experience grassland culture and taste local delicacies!
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✅ Uragai Grassland
Location: Uragai Administrative Area
Uragai Grassland is a well-preserved natural grassland named after the Uragai River flowing through it, known as the "Grassland at the Horizon." It boasts the stunning "Uragai Nine-Bend Bay" scenery, with winding rivers like ribbons, lush waterside grass, and herds of cattle, sheep, and horses, creating picturesque views.
There are many attractions to visit in Uragai Grassland, including natural sites like Uragai Lake, Uragai River, Bulin Spring, Shaoyao Valley, Birch Forest, and wetlands, as well as cultural sites like Bulin Temple, Wolf Valley, and the Corps Town. Visitors can enjoy natural beauty and experience local folk customs.
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Part 2️⃣ Grassland Rivers and Lakes
🌊Recommended spots
✅ Uragai Nine-Bend Bay
Location: 20 km east of Halagaitu Ranch, Uragai Administrative Area
💦Uragai Nine-Bend Bay is a cut-off basin of the Uragai River, named for its winding bends. The river meanders over a carpet of green grassland. Along the riverbank are Mongolian yurts, cattle, sheep, horses, and herders, forming a vivid grassland painting that is magnificent and beautiful.
💦The Uragai Nine-Bend Bay scenic area has guesthouses, highly recommended to stay overnight here. During the day, enjoy the grassland river views, try horseback riding, archery, traditional grassland sports, ride a lele cart, dress in folk costumes for photos, and taste authentic Mongolian cuisine for a relaxing grassland life. Also, note that high school exam candidates get half-price tickets with their admission ticket!
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✅ Duolun Lake
Location: Luanyuan Town, Duolun County
💦Duolun Lake is located at the southern end of Xilingol Grassland and consists of seven connected lakes, like gems set among grasslands, hills, and sandy areas. The lake has peninsulas and sandy peninsulas, and you can take boat tours to enjoy diverse scenery.
💦There is a 41-km lakeside road around Duolun Lake. Driving along it, you can see grasslands, lakes, forests, and distant mountains, with breathtaking views all along the way! This year, the scenic area also launched the "Duolun Lake Ten-Thousand-Flower Island Cute Pet World" project, where you can enjoy flowers and birdwatching! High school exam candidates also get half-price tickets with their admission ticket!
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✅ Milk Lake (Baiyin Chagan Lake in Taibus Banner)
Location: Wuqiao Aobao Gacha, Gongbo Lage Sumu, Taibus Banner
💦The recently popular "Inner Mongolia Milk Lake" is located in Taibus Banner of Xilingol League. To thank enthusiastic visitors, six "milk faucets" have been installed by the lake, allowing visitors to drink fresh milk while admiring the Milk Lake wonder—very pleasant!
💦June to late August is the best time to visit Milk Lake, coinciding with summer vacation and graduation season. High school exam candidates can get a free upgrade on their milk drink with their admission ticket! The summer Milk Lake not only offers a spectacular sight but also beautiful grassland scenery, perfect for endless photo opportunities!
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Part 3️⃣ Grassland Flower Seas
🌼Recommended spots:
✅ Peony Flowers
Location: Shaoyao Valley, Bianqiang, Taibus Banner
🌻Visitors to Taibus Banner to see "Milk Lake" should not miss the third Taibus Banner Cultural Tourism "Shaoyao Valley" Peony Flower Festival! The festival will be held from July 5 to July 6!
🌻During the festival, visitors can explore thousands of acres of wild peony flower seas, experience intangible cultural heritage crafts like lacquer fans, paper-cut lanterns, and ceramic painting, enjoy kite performances, guzheng and calligraphy shows, and take "flower sea memory" photos. You can also bring children to participate in plant specimen DIY, treasure hunts, and cute kid interviews—very rich activities, perfect for family trips! Additionally, Uragai Administrative Area has the Peony Valley Scenic Area, where you can see and photograph wild peonies while touring Uragai Grassland.
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✅ Lulan Flowers
Location: Liulangou Scenic Area, Xilinhot
🌻In the heart of the Huitengxile Grassland in Xilinhot, there is a place called Liulangou. From June to August, Lulan flowers bloom, creating beautiful flower fields. The purple flowers are mysterious and dreamy, contrasting beautifully with the green grassland.
🌻There are boardwalks through the Lulan flower fields, flanked by grasslands, flower seas, and windmills. Being there feels like entering a fairy tale world, perfect for photos. At sunrise and sunset, you can enjoy the splendid glow illuminating the purple flower sea!
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✅ Golden Lotus Flowers
Location: Jinlianchuan Grassland, Zhenglan Banner
🌻Jinlianchuan, also known as the "Eight-Hundred-Li Golden Lotus River," is a river valley in Zhenglan Banner along the Shangdu River to its source, featuring beautiful meadow grasslands. From mid-July to early August, golden lotus flowers bloom, stretching for hundreds of miles like a golden ocean—very beautiful.
🌻Visitors are recommended to enjoy the flowers along both banks of the Lightning River, appreciating the beautiful grassland painting created by grasslands, rivers, and flower seas. Jinlianchuan Grassland also has the "World Cultural Heritage" site of the Yuan Shangdu Ruins, which is worth visiting together. You can also take a sightseeing train to enjoy both natural and cultural scenery.
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Part 4️⃣ Grassland Sunrises and Sunsets
🌄Recommended spots:
✅ Xilingol Grassland Volcano National Geopark
Location: Xilinhot City
🌞This geopark is located in the central part of Xilingol Grassland and features diverse volcanic geological landscapes. It is divided into the Dove Mountain area and the Flat Top Mountain area, with countless volcanic relics scattered across the green grassland, creating very unique scenery!
🌞The Dove Mountain area is within the Baiyin Kulun Ranch, where visitors can see the Dove Mountain volcanic crater, lava terraces, volcanic cones, lava flows, fumaroles, and lava mounds. Flat Top Mountain is located in Belike Ranch and has more than ten flat-topped volcanoes. It offers the spectacular "Flat Top Mountain Sunset" view, perfect for photos!
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✅ Inner Mongolia Xilin River National Wetland Park
Location: About 9 km south of Xilinhot City
🌞This wetland park is mainly an inland tidal flat, covering 6,556 hectares. It has lush vegetation and diverse landscapes including grasslands, rivers, wetlands, and lakes. Visitors can leisurely enjoy the scenery along boardwalks.
🌞The wetland is rich in flora and fauna, especially many bird species, making it an important stopover for migratory birds. Here, visitors can watch and photograph birds. At sunset, the lake reflects the setting sun while birds skim the water surface, creating breathtaking views!
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✅ Shitiao Mountain
Location: Shuguang Village, Baochang Town, Taibus Banner
🌞Shitiao Mountain is one of "China’s Seven Major Volcanic Rock Pillar Groups," formed by cooled and solidified volcanic magma. Its unique landscape has even graced the cover of "Chinese National Geography" magazine.
🌞The stone pillars of Shitiao Mountain tower high, and standing at the foot feels like being at the bottom of a cliff, perfect for shooting otherworldly photos. Sunset is especially photogenic! On the west side of Shitiao Mountain, there is an ancient well and nearby streams where you can enjoy grassland river views and volcanic wonders. Also, this summer in Taibus Banner, you can get Shitiao Mountain postcards at the New Era Civilization Practice Volunteer Service Point in Baochang Town!
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👏Now, why not save this guide and embark on a Xilingol journey during the most beautiful grassland season? This summer, see you in Xilingol League!
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Image sources: Visual China, Vast Grassland Xilingol Culture and Tourism Official Account, Xilingol Media Official Account, Shangdu News Official Account
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