Hulunbuir Prairie

Hulunbuir Prairie, or Hulun Buir Grassland, located in the northeast of Inner Mongolia, is the superbly untouched prairie in China. Hulunbuir Prairie is among the three great prairies in the world, termed “the kingdom of pasture”. The prairie covers  100 thousand sq km (39 thousand sq mi) of some 3,000 interwoven rivers and 500 dotted lakes. It is a pleasure for the eyes to see the land and what it holds. Place name Hulunbuir Prairie origins from the Hulun Lake and the Buir Lake. Hulun means otter and Buir means male otter in Mongolian, as the two lakes used to be teeming with otters. ( See Hulunbuir Prairie Video)
 

Hulunbuir Prairie

Mergel Gol River

Mergel Gol River is reputed as “the first winding river in the world”. The river is very narrow but meanders. From the sky, the river is like a blue ribbon in the green prairie. Mergel Gol River is not only famous for the its course changes, but also for the inconsistent depths. When shallow, the river just comes over your feet; when at 3 m (10 ft)-deep, lots of fish can be seen.
 The Golden Horde, located in the middle-west of Hulunbuir Prairie, is a nomadic Mongolian scenic spot. This area is a herd grazing pasture from times of old. Between the end of the 12th century and the early 13th century, Genghis Khan united all tribes and occupied Hulunbuir Prairie. The layout of the Golden Horde is a replica of Genghis Khan’s own tent. The Golden tents are their signature housing on the move, including Khan Shatyr, military tents and for noblemen.

Admission Fee: CNY 20/person
 Hulun Lake, west of Hulunbuir Prairie, is first among lakes in Inner Mongolia. The lake presents beautiful scenery and dwellers with their colorful folk customs. You can also take part in horse riding, eating all-mutton banquet, boating and fishing. From July to August, visitors may watch fish leaping up the river linked Hulun Lake to Buir Lake.

Admission Fee: CNY 40/person
Free for children under 6 years old and under 1.2 m (3.9 ft), include 1.2 m; CNY 20 for those between 6 and 18 years old.

 Hulun Lake Video
 

The Golden Horde

Hulun Lake

The locals greet their visitors on horseback. And then, the visitors are brought into a Mongolian yurt and offered dairy products, flesh and milk tea. The hosts will present Hada (a piece of silk used as a greeting gift) and wine to the visitors, they will be very happy if the visitors accept the honour.
 Nadam Fair is a famous traditional festival of Mongolians. The festival is usually held in July-August and November-February of the coming year. “Nadam” means “entertainment, game” in Mongolian a combination of athletics in horse racing, wrestling and archery. Nowadays, it is a solemn ceremony of harvest celebration, sports activities and goods exchanging. During the ceremony, one sees horse racing, Yak racing, shooting, wrestling, playing and singing folk song.
 “Oboo” means heap in Mongolian, which is an artificial heap of stones, soil or wood bricks. Oboo is a chancel for worship, which evolves from the ancient Mongol tombs. Oboo Worship communicates with all the gods in the universe. People pray for favorable weather, healthy livestocks and peaceful life. In the religious ceremony, people present Hada and oblations, then Lama chant sutras and people kneel. Worshippers turns 3 rounds from left to right around the Oboo.

Visitors may enjoy prairie-style activities: horse riding, campfire party, archery, watching wrestling and Inner Mongolia dance.
 

Roast Lamb

Specialties include roast leg of lamb, the whole sheep feast and grilled meat, in which roast leg of lamb is the most famous dish. Hulun Lake Fish Feast is also worth trying. The feast is made by fresh fish and shrimp from Hulun Lake.
 Middle May to middle September with comfortable weather and endless green scenery is the best time for a visit, when one may also attend the Nadam Fair normally held in July or August. November to February coming year is also a good time, when the vast land is blanketed white at the winter Nadam Fair; do remember to bring warm clothing.
 1. There are many mosquitoes on the prairie in summer, please prepare mosquito repellent
2. Pay attention to guard against sun burnt.
3. The temperature varies widely from day to night, please take sufficient clothing, and prevent catching a cold.
4. Please respect the local customs and habits in order to avoid unnecessary trouble.
5. Book a yurt or a hotel room in advance if traveling there in peak season.
 1. Get to Hailar: Visitors often get to Hailar firstly by train or by air. Hailar has been connected by train with Beijing, Harbin, Hohhot and Baotou, etc, and by air with Beijing and Hohhot, etc.
2. From Hailar to Hulunbuir Prairie: As the area is very large and the public transport is scarce, chartered vehicles are recommended. According to circumstances, the price is CNY 600~1,200/day. The drivers will recommend a suitable route for you.