Horse riding
On the open steppe.
Nyx Ning — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Nyx Ning — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Nyx Ning — CC BY-SA 3.0
The closest of the great grasslands to Hohhot, rolling green steppe south-east of the town of Xilamuren in Baotou prefecture, some 72 km from the regional capital, where visitors come for a day or a night of Mongolian steppe life. Camps of round Mongolian tents equipped for overnight stays dot the grassland, many offering horse rides across the hills and some putting on wrestling and Mongolian song; the grass is at its greenest from June to September, nights turn cool even in summer, and the clear air suits sunrise and sunset over the steppe. Entry to the area costs about CNY 80 in the June-September season and horse riding from CNY 200, per visitor guides. Agree the price and length of any ride before you mount, and bring a warm layer for the evening.
On the open steppe.
Under clear skies.
Over the grassland.
Xilamuren, Darhan Muminggan Banner, Baotou, about 72 km from Hohhot
Mongolian meals centre on lamb and beef, but the meat is not necessarily halal, so ask the camp where it comes from or bring food from the Muslim restaurants in Hohhot's Huimin district.