[2025 Xinghe Attraction] Travel Guide for Laoli Lake (Updated Jun)

Laoli Lake, located in Xinghe County, Ulanqab City, Inner Mongolia, is a hidden grassland gem blending natural beauty with cultural experiences, hailed as the "Anaya of the Grasslands." Here, you’ll find crystal-clear lakes, vast pastures, and unique rural cultural tourism projects, making it an ideal short escape from urban hustle. Below is a refined and insightful Laoli Lake travel guide: --- ### **1. Natural and Cultural Highlights of Laoli Lake** - **Lake and Wetland Scenery**: Laoli Lake consists of three natural lakes, with the main oval-shaped lake featuring clear, year-round flowing water. The eastern side is dotted with woodlands and farmland, the west with marsh wetlands, and the north with natural pastures teeming with cattle and sheep, painting a harmonious natural landscape. - **Grassland "Anaya"**: The rural tourism project around Laoli Lake includes artistic structures like a wetland church and a grassland "spaceship" observatory, infusing the area with a unique artistic vibe. - **Eco-Conservation and Rural Revitalization**: Through ecological restoration (e.g., combating desertification, grassland recovery) and cultural tourism, the local community promotes rural revitalization. Visitors can join eco-volunteer activities and experience the harmony between humans and nature. --- ### **2. Best Time to Visit** - **Summer (June–August)**: Lush green grasslands and azure lakes are perfect for camping, boating, and stargazing. - **Autumn (September–October)**: Golden grasslands against blue lakes create a photographer’s paradise. - **Winter (December–February)**: Frozen lakes offer ice-skating and snow hiking, with stunning sunsets over the icy landscape. --- ### **3. Transportation** - **Self-Drive**: ~3.5 hours from Beijing; navigate to "Wusheng Qidi·Anzhi Ruosu" or "Laoli Lake." - **High-Speed Rail**: Take a train from Beijing North Station to "Xinghe North" (~1.5 hours), then a 30-minute taxi ride. - **Group Tours**: Multiple Beijing-based agencies offer 2-day tours covering Laoli Lake and Ulanhad Volcano, ideal for non-drivers. --- ### **4. Recommended Experiences** - **Nature Exploration**: - **Lakeside Hiking**: Stroll along the shore to observe wetland birds and wild flora. - **Stargazing Camping**: Marvel at the starry sky; tents are available for rent. - **Shepherding Experience**: Join local herders to tend sheep and embrace nomadic traditions. - **Cultural Highlights**: - **"Spaceship" Observatory**: Overlook the lake and grasslands, especially magical at dusk. - **Wetland Church**: A picturesque spot inspired by the filming location of *The Breakup*. - **Culinary Delights**: - **Roast Whole Lamb/Hand-Grabbed Meat**: Traditional herder-style dishes with tender meat. - **Mongolian Milk Tea & Dairy Products**: Authentic Mongolian flavors. --- ### **5. Accommodation** - **Grassland Camping**: Anzhi & Sheep Camp or Wusheng Qidi Camp, ideal for stargazing. - **Unique Stays**: Lakeside cabins or yurts, some with private bathrooms; try those near "Grassland Anaya." - **City Hotels**: Business hotels in Ulanqab for comfort seekers. --- ### **6. Tips** - **Sun/Wind Protection**: Strong UV in summer (sunscreen + hat); winter demands windproof warmth. - **Eco-Travel**: Pack out trash to protect the fragile plateau ecosystem. - **Photography**: Best at sunrise/sunset; drones allowed (check local rules). --- Laoli Lake captivates with its purity and tranquility, offering vast grasslands, lively lakes, and artistic warmth. Whether for a quick urban escape or an immersive grassland experience, it promises unforgettable memories.

|Herding clouds and sheep on the grassland is an incredibly romantic thing. Laolihai truly resembles a primitive version of Aranya～minimal development～free from the hustle and bustle of crowds～ Its beauty lies in its tranquility～standing by the lake with the breeze brushing past～you can easily lose yourself in thought for hours... Facing Laolihai directly is the Wushengqidi Hotel🏨, where the windows frame a giant oil painting～blue skies, white clouds, the lake, and sheep🐏～utterly pure... This was a filming location for the show "Farewell My Love"～ Revitalization Academy: (a building resembling a UFO) The exterior is full of design flair～ Nomad Lighthouse: A geometrically shaped chapel～like a solitary lighthouse on the water～perfect for evening photography📸～ Whether it's the homestay, Revitalization Academy, or the solitary architecture～📸every spot is incredibly photogenic... 🏨In the evening, someone delivers goodnight soup and lights the fireplace～creating a full-on cozy atmosphere～ 📍Laolihai, Ulanqab 🚗Self-drive: About 4 hours from Beijing, or ~55 minutes from Ulanqab. Navigate to "Wushengqidi"～ 🚄High-speed rail: Arrive at Ulanqab Station/Xinghe Station, then take a shared/private car for a 1-hour direct ride～ It's about 1.5 hours' drive from Ulanha Volcano～plan a visit the next day if time allows～

Introduction to Laolihai Tourist Attraction Laolihai is located in Erdong Town, Xinghe County, Ulanqab City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and is a picturesque natural scenic spot. This area preserves nature in its purest form, characterized by vast grasslands and azure natural lakes. Here are some detailed introductions about Laolihai: **Natural Landscape** Laolihai is an oval-shaped natural lake. Although it is called a "sea," it is actually a lake. It shares the same vastness and deep blue hue as the sea, covering a total area of 120 hectares. The water here is neutral in quality, with a light green tint and visibility of about 1 meter. The lakebed is mostly sandy, and the water source is abundant, flowing continuously throughout the year. **Ecological Diversity** Laolihai is the closest natural pasture to Beijing. Every spring, tens of thousands of migratory birds, such as swans and relict gulls, stop here, composing an epic of life's cycle. The area is also frequented by herds of cattle and sheep roaming freely, creating a breathtaking pastoral scene. **Tourism Activities** Laolihai is home to Inner Mongolia's first "Beautiful Villages" rural revitalization demonstration project. Leveraging the area's unique natural landscape, the project has developed a cluster of distinctive homestays, attracting visitors to immerse themselves in the grassland lifestyle. **Cultural Experience** Laolihai is not only a great place to admire natural beauty but also an excellent spot to experience grassland culture. Visitors can feel the strong natural atmosphere and the simplicity of local traditions here. In summary, with its unique natural scenery and rich cultural experiences, Laolihai has become a popular choice for tourism and leisure. Whether it's the spring migration of birds or the summer grassland festivities, Laolihai offers a distinctive blend of nature and culture.

I've found a hidden grassland with few tourists and beautiful scenery that resembles Altay. It's the Laoli Lake, located next to the Ulanqab volcanic group, which is difficult to find even on large-scale maps🌊 It's a spiritual sanctuary for a brief escape, like a "grassland Aranya"🌙 During the day, cattle and sheep are your neighbors⛺Horses come to your doorstep to graze There are also azure lakes, primitive villages, and a little lamb nursery🐏... At night, you can enjoy starry skies and bonfires✨ · 【🗺️Weekend 2-Day Itinerary】 D1: Wushengqidi-Grassland "Aranya"-Dapodi Village-Gaoda Xibu-Stay in campsite tents or homestay D2: Anzhiyuyang Camp-Laoli Lake-Return journey · 【🟢Transportation Guide】 🚗Self-driving: Navigate directly to Wushengqidi 🚅High-speed rail: Get off at "Xinghe North" station, then take a 30-minute taxi ride · 【🎈Travel Tips】 1️⃣Wushengqidi 📍Stone House: South of the restaurant, with wooden fences like those in the TV show "Flower Travels" 📍Flying Saucer🛸: Across the river from the restaurant, standing alone on the vast grassland 📍Grassland "Aranya": Take photos of white houses from below, and "sea view" shots from above 📍Little Lamb Nursery: You can get 🥕 to feed the lambs 👉🏻The surrounding villages maintain their primitive appearance, offering a wilderness feel different from the city · 2️⃣Anzhiyuyang Grasslands, sparse trees, cattle and sheep, lake water, and trees growing into rooms - how adorable! A secret spot with few people but beautiful scenery. The tents and equipment are all outdoor-style, just like a Beijing branch of Altay‼️ Perfect for relaxing and daydreaming all day · 【🏨Accommodation Guide】 For a tent experience, stay at the campsite. If you prefer comfort and modern amenities, choose a homestay. Both accommodations have cattle, sheep, and horses roaming around🐏 · 【🍟Food Guide】 Try roasted lamb, lamb skewers, and Mongolian milk tea🐮 You can also go to Xinghe County town for Mongolian cuisine, including meat sausages, blood sausages, hand-held meat, and more... · 🥰Chatting with the staff working here, I learned that this is a rural revitalization project in cooperation with the Xinghe County Rural Development Foundation. The current ecosystem here is the result of many people's love and care... On what was once rocky, desertified land, they collected stones to build walls, allowing grass to grow again and inviting sheep to tread on it, restoring the grassland to its near-original state... It's the result of daily meticulous care and tremendous transformation over time❤️

In the winter of Inner Mongolia, Laolihai is like a dazzling pearl, exuding a cold and charming charm. The cold wind blows, and a thick layer of ice forms on the lake, shimmering in the sunlight. The ice surface is as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the white clouds in the sky, like a natural painting. The trees by the lake shiver in the cold wind, with crystal-clear icicles hanging from the branches, shining like crystals. Walking along the lakeshore, the snow underfoot makes a "creaking" sound, as if telling the story of winter. The rolling mountains in the distance are covered with snow, contrasting with the blue sky, forming a beautiful winter picture. In this icy world, many people are enjoying the fun of winter. Some people are skating and playing on the ice, while others are building snowmen and having snowball fights in the snow. The laughter of children echoes in the cold air, adding a touch of vitality to this cold land. The winter Laolihai is not only a beautiful natural landscape but also a poetic place. When the sun sets, the sky gradually turns orange-red, and the entire lake is bathed in warm light. At this time, Laolihai is like a gentle girl, quietly telling her story. In the cold winter, Laolihai shows its unique charm. It is not only a gift from nature but also a comfort to people's hearts. Let's walk into this winter world together, feel its beauty and tranquility, and witness the "her" in winter. Laolihai

1. Weather The three days in Hohhot were all sunny, and the daytime temperature was basically in the range of -7 to -13. Maybe it was because of the sunny weather, or maybe it was because of the enthusiasm for traveling, but I didn’t feel very cold when I encountered sub-zero temperatures for the first time. It felt more like the early morning temperature of frost in the south. 2⃣ About clothing I have never been to the north, and I was afraid of freezing to death, so I bought a lot of warm equipment. But during the few days I spent in Hohhot, I basically wore a wool vest + thermal underwear + sweater + coat on the upper body, and tights + big cotton pants on the lower body. If I played in the snow, I would wear a scarf, earmuffs, hat and gloves. I kept my down jacket with me because I was afraid of being cold, thinking I would put it on after taking the photos, but I never had the chance to wear it. (I didn’t use the foot warmer I bought…) (I had so much fun playing in the snow that I even lay in a snowdrift wearing only a sweater) 3⃣About itinerary Day 1: Left the airport at around 8:00, had some ice-cooked lamb and went back to the hotel to rest Day 2: Train to Ulanqab. After exiting the station, we chartered a car to go to Laolihai (about an hour’s drive). Then we set out from Laolihai to Ulanhada Volcano (about two and a half hours’ drive). Finally, we went from the volcano to Ulanqab Station. We took the train back to downtown Hohhot. We had Sanjiangyuan grilled fish for dinner (delicious and loved it). Day 3: I slept until noon and had Su Yuan Spicy Hot Pot. We chartered a car to go to Hongshi Cliff at around 1 a.m., because the guide said that the beauty of Hongshi Cliff lies in the scenery along the way. We finally stopped at the sign of [Inner Mongolia’s own Altay] and did not go into the scenic area (I don’t know what the inside of the scenic area is like, but the scenery on the way is really beautiful! The snow is enough for southerners to play with) 4⃣About photography equipment I brought Fuji xt30, DJI, and Canon g11. In conclusion, DJI restored 90% of the scenery I saw! I think wearing red/yellow/blue/purple clothes for taking photos will look better (the richer the colors, the better. Plush earmuffs are a must! Very photogenic) If you don’t want to bring too many clothes, you can bring a few scarves and hats to have more looks🤔 5. About drugs I felt dizzy and nauseous after dinner, so I took Huoxiang Zhengqi Pills and Compound Aminoacetamine Tablets. I felt much better the next day (especially energetic when taking photos). I also had severe red bloodshot eyes from wearing cosmetic contact lenses for too long, so I took Bausch and Lomb's Nai (it has a grass radical, but my input method can't type it) and Minvi Eye Drops (a magical drug, my eyes became brighter after using them and they were no longer red!) ⚠If you feel unwell, you should still see a doctor. I only describe my physical condition and symptoms and what medicine I took.

After working hard and overtime for three consecutive weeks in Beijing, I decided to escape from Beijing! I discovered a niche destination just 3.5 hours’ drive from Beijing - Laolihai. I recommend it to every Beijing office worker who needs a brief escape or a short trip. Laolihai is located at the junction of Hebei, Inner Mongolia and Shanxi, so it is very suitable as a transit point for weekend trips. We drove here from Ulanqab Volcano and then returned to Beijing from here. The itinerary was designed to be very smooth. 🎨 This is where one of the famous scenes from "Goodbye, Lover" this year comes from: the couple portrait. What is more worth mentioning is that a rural tourism poverty alleviation homestay project was built around Laoli Lake, which led to the church⛪️ on the wetland and the spaceship🪐 on the grassland, giving people a wonderful feeling that a sea has grown out of the grassland. Some people say that this is Anaya on the grassland, but I think it is more like its name: where things grow from where they are - closer to nature, growing naturally in the countryside rather than being artificially created, with a purity that has not been overdeveloped. 🌅 The lake water sways gently on the grassland, and the evening sky is half dyed red and half turned pink. A local uncle stood in the sunset and asked us where we were from in Inner Mongolian Mandarin. We told the uncle how happy we were to see the beautiful scenery every day. My uncle smiled shyly and told us to go there in the summer, when the scenery would be even more beautiful with cows, horses and sheep grazing on the opposite bank. 🚧 The big red words on both sides of the roadside tunnel say that this is the "back garden of the capital". The last place described in this way was indeed Aranya. I plan to go there again in the summer when the grass is lush and the grassland is green, to try the fish caught from the Laoli Sea. To facilitate self-driving tours, there are special camping sites and RV sites here. 📍 Self-driving location: Everything grows in its place, and it is a safe place to stay (you can also stay here for one night, but it is indeed a bit expensive) 🔌 Electric vehicle charging pile: Car charging station (Laolihai, Xinghe County), the charging pile is right by the lake, and you can charge it when you park. Very convenient.

Laolihai Ranch, Ulanqab, Inner Mongolia At Laolihai Ranch, you can experience the most authentic Mongolian customs 🎪. Stay in a traditional yurt, enjoy delicious roast whole lamb and hand-held meat, drink fragrant milk tea, and feel the hospitality of the Mongolian people 🤝. At night, lie on the grassland and look up at the starry sky. The bright stars are like gems inlaid on the sky, shining with mysterious light ✨, making you feel like you are in a fairy tale world. Food recommendations: Roast whole lamb: One of the specialties of the Ulanqab grassland, it is delicious. Hand-held meat: Cut the lamb into large pieces and eat it with your hands. It is very delicious. Milk tea: A traditional Mongolian drink with a rich taste. Cheese: Ulanqab grassland cheese is very famous and has a delicate taste.

3 hours from Beijing to the Mirror of the Sky - Ulanqab's Laolihai This is my second time visiting Ulanqab's Laolihai, and each time I come, I am surprised by something new! Last time, I saw the sunset, and this time, I was lucky enough to visit on a sunny, windless day. The pure blue sky reflected on the lake's surface is as beautiful as a mirror of the sky. I don't know how to describe it in words, so I hope these photos can help you feel the beauty. You don't need any special tips to visit here. If you're driving, just navigate to "Wushengqidi, Benhong Village, Eerdong Town, Xinghe County, Ulanqab City, Inner Mongolia." If you're departing from Beijing, the drive takes about 3 hours, and there are charging stations at the destination, which is very convenient for electric cars. If you're taking public transportation, you can depart from Qinghe Station, take the high-speed train for about an hour to Xinghe North Station, and then take a taxi. It's free to visit! It's also about an hour's drive from the volcano, and the road is easy to drive. Visiting these two attractions in two days is a fulfilling trip. 😉

Traveling in Ulanqab? You must read this post. The scenery here is better than any other tourist attraction. You will pass through a village and see herdsmen grazing cattle🐂. You will also see a large lake. It's rare to see both grasslands and lakes in Inner Mongolia🏞️. There is a lonely church⛪️ across the lake. The church is not yet fully built. There are very few visitors. It's really fun and photogenic. It's like we've discovered a "secret garden". 🚗 It's a 4-hour drive from Beijing. It's an hour's drive from Ulanqab. It's a 2.5-hour drive from Hohhot (except for off-road vehicles, small cars can also come here, but the road is a bit difficult to drive). 📍"Laoli Sea"