Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia is a region in northern China of open grassland, desert dunes and Mongolian herding life. Most trips start in Hohhot, the regional capital.
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Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region in northern China that runs along the border with Mongolia. The scenery shifts from east to west: grassland covers much of the center and east, forest grows in the northeast, and desert and sand dunes spread across the west and south. Hohhot, the regional capital, and Baotou, an industrial city to the west, are the main entry points. Both can be reached by train or air from Beijing.
The region suits travelers who want wide open country and a look at Mongolian herding life more than city sightseeing. Grassland is greenest and easiest to visit from June to August, when herders' camps and horseback rides are most common. Winter brings snow and cold. Distances are large, so choose one or two landscapes instead of covering all of them. A week allows a grassland stay and a desert visit, with travel time between them.
Inner Mongolia in five
- Pick one landscape and one gatewayInner Mongolia spans thousands of kilometers, so choosing grassland near Hohhot, dunes near Baotou or the far northeast needs separate trips. Pick one and book the gateway city flight or rail accordingly.
- Visit between June and September for grassSummer turns the steppe green and brings herding families out on the grassland. Winter is very cold with snow, and spring is dusty and brown, so the season shapes the whole trip.
- Book a driver or tour for the steppePublic transport reaches towns, not camps. A tour or driver with a fixed route is the realistic way to see grassland, and the operator should confirm lodging details and transfers in writing.Compare tours
- Plan cash for the steppeCamps and small towns are where card acceptance and ATMs run thinnest. Set up a payment app in Hohhot and keep cash for the road.Money and costs
- Combine it with Beijing by rail or airHohhot and Baotou are reachable from Beijing by train and by flight, so Inner Mongolia fits a Beijing extension. Check 12306 and flights for the current timetable.Beijing
Things to do in Inner Mongolia
See all attractions in Inner Mongolia
Need to know
- Airport
- Hohhot Baita (HET) is the main gateway
- Getting there
- Flights and rail from Beijing to Hohhot and Baotou
- Getting around
- Long distances; hire a driver or join a small tour
- Best base
- Hohhot for the city, a grassland camp for the steppe
- Time needed
- 4 to 6 days for one landscape
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryVery cold
- FebruaryVery cold
- MarchDusty, cold
- AprilDry, windy
- MayWarming
- JuneGreen steppe
- JulyPeak grassland
- AugustPeak grassland
- SeptemberCrisp
- OctoberCool, brown
- NovemberCold
- DecemberVery cold
Right now in Inner Mongolia
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
-1
- Feels like
- -6°
- Humidity
- 44%
- Wind
- 12 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Inner Mongolia
04:40 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today8°-3°0%Tuesday: Clear. High 8°, Low -3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed11°-1°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu1°-6°0%Thursday: Clear. High 1°, Low -6°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri-2°-7°0%Friday: Cloudy. High -2°, Low -7°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat2°-7°0%Saturday: Cloudy. High 2°, Low -7°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun3°-7°0%Sunday: Clear. High 3°, Low -7°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Mon8°-4°0%Monday: Clear. High 8°, Low -4°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 01:22 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 6.661 CNY
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Gegentala grasslandroad from HohhotA grassland area north of Hohhot with yurt stays, popular for short steppe trips.
- Genghis Khan Mausoleumroad from Ordos or BaotouA memorial complex in Ordos region, best combined with a driver.
- Xiangshawan dunesroad from BaotouA desert area with sand dunes near the Yellow River, a half-day outing.
Before you go to Inner Mongolia
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Rules for Inner Mongolia, checked
- Check visa-free entry and visa rules for your passport on the National Immigration Administration website before you book.Source
- SIM cards and many mobile services need your passport registered in your name, so bring the passport to the shop.
- Mobile payment is common across China, but carry some yuan in cash as a backup.
- Drone flights must follow CAAC rules, and many areas are restricted. Check before you fly.
Plan around Inner Mongolia
Visa-free entry, payments, trains and cities
Read the guideBeijingThe usual gateway by rail or air
Read the guideHarbinIce festival city in the far northeast
Read the guideShanxiDatong and Yungang, next door by rail
Read the guideChina visa-free entryThe 30-day list and the 240-hour transit
Read the guidePhones and eSIMCoverage and data for remote trips
Read the guideInner Mongolia FAQ
When is the best time to visit Inner Mongolia?
June to September for green grassland and mild days. July and August are peak season, and September is crisper and quieter. Winter is very cold and spring is dry and dusty.
How many days do you need in Inner Mongolia?
Four to six days for one landscape: two or three on the steppe, plus city days in Hohhot. Trying to combine the steppe and the desert in one short trip means long road days.
Is Inner Mongolia part of Mongolia?
No. Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region of China, while Mongolia is a separate country. Entry rules for the two are different, and a China visa-free or visa entry does not apply to Mongolia.
Do I need a tour for the grassland?
A tour or driver is the practical choice. Public transport reaches towns, but camps and grassland areas are off the main routes, and a guide handles lodging and transfers.
Can I use cards in Inner Mongolia?
In Hohhot and other cities often, but on the steppe plan on mobile payment and cash. Set up a payment app before you leave the city, because camps may not take cards.