2024 Taibus Banner Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in November)

Explore the Volcanic Ruins of Shitiao Mountain | Unlock the Lesser-known Wonders around Beijing.

🌟Highlights: Shitiao Mountain, one of the seven volcanic rock pillar groups in China, is located in Shuguang Village, Taipusi Banner, Xilin Gol League, Inner Mongolia. It is a basalt rock pillar formed by the magma erupted from the submarine volcano about 200 million years ago. It is about 4 hours' drive from Beijing. Shitiao Mountain has also been on the cover of National Geographic magazine in China. The ingenious workmanship of nature and the fantasy of volcanic rock pillars have made it a paradise for photography enthusiasts. 📷Photo Spots: ✅Rock Pillar Group: The core landscape of Shitiao Mountain. Here you can take photos of the spectacular and peculiar rock pillar landscape. Especially at sunrise or sunset, the sun shines on the rock pillars, which is even more unique. ✅Mountain Top: Overlooking from the top of the mountain, you can see the magnificent scenery of the entire Shitiao Mountain, as well as the vast grassland and mountains in the distance. Here, you can take panoramic photos, perfectly integrating the majesty of Shitiao Mountain and the vastness of the grassland. ✅Foot of the Mountain: Near the foot of the mountain, you can find some interesting foreground elements, such as scattered boulders and lush vegetation. These elements can form an interesting contrast with the rock pillar group in the distance, adding more layers to the photos. ✅Camping⛺️: Camping in Shitiao Mountain, you can take photos of Shitiao Mountain under the starry sky, or the beautiful scenery of the first ray of morning sun shining on the rock pillars. You can bring a tripod and use a wide-angle lens to capture more details and changes in light. 🕙Opening Hours: All day 🎫Admission: Free 📍Address: Shuguang Village, Taipusi Banner, Xilin Gol League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

Shitiaoshan (1)

Shitiaoshan is located 4 kilometers northwest of Taipusiqi in Xilingol League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. It is a geological wonder formed after a volcanic eruption and is one of the seven major volcanic rock column groups in China. The vertical stone columns of Shitiaoshan stand layer upon layer, steep and towering, forming a steep cliff that is spectacular and majestic. Looking up from the foot of the mountain, the vertical stone columns stand layer upon layer, almost forming a straight line, steep and towering, which is a typical basalt column formed after a volcanic eruption. Ticket price: Free Opening hours: 0:00-24:00 Transportation information: No public transportation is available. Navigate to Taipusiqi Shitiaoshan to reach the foot of the mountain. There is about 500 meters of unpaved road in front of Shitiaoshan, but it does not affect vehicle travel.

Shitiao Mountain (II)

Shitiao Mountain, also known as Dashiya, is located 4 kilometers northwest of Taibus Banner in Xilin Gol League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. It is a basalt column formed by the solidification of magma from underwater volcanic eruptions approximately 230 million to 67 million years ago. It is one of the seven major volcanic rock column groups in China. The August 2009 issue of 'Chinese National Geography' magazine featured Shitiao Mountain on its cover with a detailed report. Shitiao Mountain is steep and towering, majestic and spectacular. Climbing to the top offers a panoramic view of the surrounding scenery, giving one a sense of overlooking all other mountains and a feeling of exhilaration. Its magnificent landscape not only attracts a large number of tourists but also draws many rock climbing enthusiasts. It has abundant tourism resources and immense scientific research value, serving as a valuable carrier for researchers studying Earth's history and geological evolution. Ticket Price: Free Opening Hours: 0:00-24:00 Transportation Information: No public transportation is available. Navigate to Taibus Banner Shitiao Mountain to reach the foot of the mountain. There is about 500 meters of unpaved road before reaching Shitiao Mountain, but it does not affect vehicle travel.

Taipusiqi Cultural Square

Taipusiqi Cultural Square is located at the southwest corner of the intersection of Yingbin Road and Baochang Road in Taipusiqi, Xilin Gol League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, in front of the Taipusiqi Museum. Covering an area of about 150,000 square meters, with a total investment of 56 million yuan, it consists of three main parts: the Cultural Building Surrounding Landscape Area, the Royal Horse Culture Square Landscape Area, and the Youth Palace Surrounding Landscape Area. The square utilizes its unique geographical location at the border of Inner Mongolia and Hebei to highlight the characteristics of Mongolian nomadic culture, folk customs, Taipusiqi farming culture, and its status as a major agricultural county. The central square is designed with Mongolian cultural symbols as the paving form; the Royal Horse Culture Square is designed with elements such as royal horse reliefs, paving, and horse head decorations as symbols of royal horse culture; the Youth Palace Surrounding Landscape Area is designed with agricultural planting as the main theme, showcasing the twenty-four solar terms. It comprehensively displays the regional culture and historical connotations of Taipusiqi, harmoniously unified with the natural environment. It is a comprehensive square integrating functions such as large-scale event gathering, leisure and health, cultural display, and popular science education. The project started construction in 2010 and was put into use in 2011. The completion of the cultural square provides the public with a fully functional, beautiful, and culturally rich leisure activity venue, effectively changing the appearance of Taipusiqi towns and improving the level of urban construction. Taipusiqi Cultural Square is open to the public free of charge all year round.

Maragai Temple

Maragai Temple, also named 'Xian'an Temple,' is located in Heishatu Gacha, Gongbaolage Sumu, Taipusi Banner, Xilin Gol League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. It is a Tibetan Buddhist Gelugpa monastery. The temple was first built in the 34th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1695) and was completed in the 2nd year of the Yongzheng reign (1724). It was granted the name 'Xian'an Temple' by the Qing court, and the local Mongolians call it 'Maragai Temple' (which means 'Hat Temple' in Chinese). Maragai Temple has 428 registered lamas. It was the most splendid temple of the former Taipusi Left Wing Pasture. To the east of the Taipusi Left Wing Pasture is the Luotuoshanzi Temple, and to the west are the Dunda Temple and Xiaomiaozi Temple. Maragai Temple is currently under renovation and is temporarily closed to the public. Transportation Information: It is recommended to drive there.

The Hometown of Imperial Horse Culture in China—Taipusi Banner

Located 320 kilometers north of Beijing, there is a small town called Taipusi Banner. It is situated at the southernmost part of the Xilingol Grassland, one of the four greatest grasslands in the world, and serves as the starting point for the scenic drive across the thousand-mile Xilingol Grassland. With a long history, it is the hometown of the royal imperial horse culture and also one of China's top 100 'deep breath' small cities. Within the banner, Shitiaoshan is one of the seven major grassland volcanic rock pillars in China, formed by the solidification of magma from an underwater volcanic eruption approximately 230 million to 67 million years ago. There is also the only temple named after a hat and the Grassland Wolf Nature Reserve, among other attractions.

#wintergetaway

The Shitiao Mountain in Inner Mongolia Taipusi Banner is one of the seven volcanic rock pillars in China. The stone pillar is a basaltic rock pillar formed by the volcanic eruption of magma. The formation of Shitiao Mountain was about 230 million years ago. At the bottom of the ocean, because the latitude is high and the sea is cold, the lava erupted by the volcano is rapidly cooled by the seawater, forming a columnar joint (the shape of the stone). In addition to the Shizhuang Mountain itself, this hillside is also scattered with many large stones. It looks wild and mysterious. With today's rainy days, there is a feeling in Iceland. Sunset, the herdsmen rushed down the mountain from the cattle and sheep, and after a thousand years of time, there was a feeling of crossing. The other side of the Stone Mountain is a layer of farmland. The feeling of standing on the top of the mountain is also superb.