Banyannur Travel Guide

Chinese Name: 巴彦淖尔 (bā yán nào ěr)
Population: 1,690,000
Area: 64,000 square kilometers (247,105 square miles)
Location: in the west of Inner Mongolia, north China
Administrative Division: 1 district (Linhe); 2 counties (Wuyuan, Dengkou); 4 banners (Urad Back Banner, Urad Front Banner, Urad Middle Banner, Hanggin Back Banner)  
Area Code: 0478
Zip Code: 015000
GDP (2018): CNY 81.31 billion (USD 12.29 billion)
Nationalities: Mongol, Man, Han

Bayannur/Bayannaoer is situated in the western region of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, neighboring Mongolia to the north. Within Inner Mongolia, it borders the steel city of Baotou on the grasslands to the east, the coal capital, Wuhai, to the west, and to the south, it is separated from Ordos by the Yellow River. In the north is the beautiful and vast Wulat grassland, with a long history of animal husbandry.

The majestic Yinshan Mountain, rich in mineral resources, stands in the middle region of Banyannur where visitors can appreciate more than 50,000 Yinshan rock carvings. The largest artesian irrigation area in Asia is located in the Hetao Plain in the south of Banyannu, irrigating more than 1.8 million acres of high-quality arable land. More than 300 lakes are scattered all over the city. Wuliangsu Lake, the largest wetland in the Yellow River Basin, is the paradise of birds like wild geese. Here you can enjoy the vastness of Ulan Buh Desert, listen to the pulse of the Yellow River, enjoy endless Wulat Grassland, and experience the beauty and tranquility of Hetao Plain.

 Note: Qi (or Banner) is a county-level administrative organ in Inner Mongolia's political divisions.

Bayannur is Mongolian for rich lake. This ancient and fascinating land gave birth to twenty-nine ethnic minorities who lived there harmoniously and created a brilliant civilization combining farming with nomadism.
 
For the natural scenery, Wuliangsuhai Lake is a wetland ecological tourist zone and a perfect bird habitat. Alaben Grassland, Ulashan (Wulashan) National Forest Parkand Viction International Golf Resort are perfect destinations to experience the beauty of Bayannur. Desert landscape represented by the Sanshenggong Water Control Projecton the Yellow River and Ulan Buh (Wulanbuhe) Desert is another enchanting aspect of Bayannur. Additionally, visitors can get to the boundary area with Mongolia to experience the strong Mongolian flavor.  
 
Also, Banyan Nur has many relics of the Great Wall, including Gaoque Fortress, and Jilu Fortress.

Baotou - Lanzhou Railway runs through Bayannur. But apart from this, much longer journeys should be taken by bus. From the long-distance bus station in South Shengli Road of the downtown area, buses travel to Hohhot, Baotou, Tianjin, Beijing and Xi'an.

Bayannur has a temperate continental monsoon climate with four distinct seasons where the temperature varies greatly from season to season. It is has an abundance of sunshine with long strong windy periods which usually occur in spring and winter. The annual average temperature maintains around 3.7 C - 7.6 C (38.7 F - 45.7 F) and about sixty percent of the annual precipitation falls during July and August.
 
 When to Go: April to October is the most favorable time to visit Bayannur.

 History: Early in the primitive age, human settlers were living in Bayannaoer north of the Yinshan Mountains. It was during Warring States Period (476BC-221BC) that the territory of the Zhao State extended to the southern slopes of Yinshan Mountains and, until the Western Han Dynasty (206BC-24AD), was the first to establish counties and shires to administer the area.    
 
 Physical Features: The Yinshan Mountains zigzag through the central region of Bayannur. North of the mountainous area is broad pasture, whilst the region south of Banyan Nur is the famous Hetao Plain.
 
 Special Local Products: Hetao cantaloupe melons, sunflower seed, apple shaped pears, water melons, medlars and cashmere