Ulanqab (Wulanchabu) Travel Guide

Chinese Name: 乌兰察布 (wū lán chá bù)
Population: 2,090,200
Area: 54,500 square kilometers (21,042 square miles)
Location: in the central area of Inner Mongolia, north China
Administrative Division: 1 district (Jining); 5 counties (Zhuozi, Huade, Shangdu, Xinghe, Liangcheng); 4 banners (Qahar Youyi Banner, Qahar Youyi Zhong Banner, Qahar Youyi Hou Banner, Siziwang Banner); 1 county-level city (Fengzhen)  
Area Code: 0474
Zip Code: 012000
GDP (2019): CNY 80.84 billion (USD 11.72 billion)
Nationalities: Han, Mongol, Hui, Man, Daur, Chaoxian

Located in the central region of Inner Mongolia, Ulanqab/Wulanchabu City borders Mongolia to the north, Xilingol to the northeast, Hohhot and Baotou to the west, Hebei Province to the east and Shanxi Province to the south. This is a city only 300 kilometers (186 miles) away from Beijing. It only takes 1.5 hours by bullet train and 40 minutes by air to China’s capital city.

With a stable geological environment, cold climate and preferential electricity price, Ulanqab is favored by many corporations such as Huawei, Alibaba and Apple for building data centers. It also functions as a wind power capital. The installed capacity of wind power and photovoltaic power is 6.3 million kilowatts. Ulanqab has a pleasant climate, with an average annual temperature of only 18.8 ℃ (65.8 ℉) in summer and shows attractive scenery of grasslands, forests and lakes. In winter, Liangcheng Daihai International Ski Resort and Dahewan International Ski Resort in Jining are popular tourist attractions. There will also be Ice and Snow Art Festival and Ice and Snow Season at that time.

Ulanqab has vast picturesque grasslands which are the nearest grasslands resorts to Beijing. Gegentala Grassland is a national level tourist destination boasting a typical grassland landscape. Huitengxile Grassland is a beautiful alpine meadow with many natural lakes scattered throughout the grassland. The largest wind power plant in Asia also stands in the grassland. 
 
Among the lakes, Daihai Lake is like a shining pearl inlaid in Ulanqab, and is the third largest freshwater lake in Inner Mongolia. There are many relics and ruins of fossils, villages and ancient towns, as well as parts of the ancient Great Wall and tombs around the lake. It is only four hours' drive from Beijing and an hour from Datong in Shanxi.

1. By air: Ulanqab is both easy to get to and to leave due to its accessibility to several surrounding airports which are all connected by expressways. The seat of the city's government, Jining District, is about 150 kilometers (93 miles) or about 1.5 hours from Hohhot Baita Airport, 300 kilometers (186 miles) or three hours from Baotou Airport, and 360 kilometers (224 miles) or four hours from Beijing Capital International Airport. Additionally, Datong Airport is 120 kilometers (75 miles) from the city and Taiyuan Wusu Airport can be reached in about five hours.
 
2. By train: There are also five railway lines that pass through Ulanqab City. Erenhot (Erlianhaote), Baotou, and Tongliao in Inner Mongolia, Junggur Basin in Xijiang and Beijing can all be reached from Ulanqab by train. Ulanqab Railway Station operates international lines to Ulan Bator and Moscow.
 
3. By bus/highway: Dandong-Lhasa Expressway, the Erenhot-Hekou (Yunnan Province) and the Hohhot-Hailaer Expressway all run through the city. It takes approximately four hours to drive there from the international inland port of Erenhot, which is an important stop on the passage to Outer Mongolia.

Situated in the middle temperate climatic zone, Ulanqab City has a continental monsoon climate. With the Daqing Mountain as a divisor, the south region is warmer and wetter, while the north is windy. Precipitation is mainly concentrated during the period from July to September. The annual average temperature ranges from 0 C (32 F) to 18 C (64.4 F).
 
 When to Go: It is chilly in winter and cool in summer in Ulanqab. Summer and autumn are the most favorable seasons to pay a visit. 

 History: During the Warring States Period (476BC-221BC), Ulanqab was jointly governed by Zhao State and the Hun. The Qin Dynasty (221BC-206BC) brought it into its territory. Later, during the times of war after the national subjugation of the Qin, the Huns occupied most of this area. They founded their supreme organ of authority in present Siziwang Qi. During the hundreds of years since the Song Dynasty (960-1279), several ethnic minorities of Northern China have gone to live there. It was formally named Wulanchabu in the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
 
 Physical Features: The Daqing Mountain stretches through the central region of Ulanqab with its offshoots zigzagging in southeast of the city. From the north to the south of Ulanqab, there are several landform types including plateaus, hills, mountains and loess hills.  
 
 Special Local Products: Jining leather product, Fengzhen black jade, Zhuozishan smoked chicken