Plan your Inner Mongolia tour? Hulunbuir ( or Hulunbeier ) is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Inner Mongolia. Hulunbuir was once a league until in October, 2001 when it was established as a prefecture-level city. Its local government is now seated in Hailar District which used to be known as the city of Hailar ( or Hailaer ).
Hulunbuir administrates 13 different county-level regions: one district, five county-level cities, four banners and three autonomous banners including Hailar District, Manzhouli City, Ergun City, New Barag Left Banner, Evenk Autonomous Banner and more. It has an area of 263,000 square km, the size of Jiangsu Province and Shandong Province in China.
Northeastern Inner Mongolia Tour offers private trips to Hulunbuir Grassland, the finest pasture in China and the best preserved grassland in the world!
The Erguna River area in Hulunbuir was once the living area for Genghis Khan’s forefathers. Ergun City was the hometown of Genghis Khan (1162-1227), who here united all the tribes and started to conquer most of Asia and Eastern Europe.
1. Golden Horde Mongolian Tribe 金帐汗蒙古部落
It is a tourist destination, the only nomadic tribe open to the tourists. It is a reproduction of the camping tents in Genghis Khan’s time, a kind of travel experience bringing people back to the old days.
It is built in the heartland of Hulunbuir Grassland, on the banks of Moergele River that is hailed as China’s first Qushui (River bends).
Check out my another article Sunrise Glow over Hulunbuir Grassland for more information.
This area’s natural pasture is well known home and abroad. Historical records show, many ancient ethnic groups once originated and developed. They lived here from generation to generation till the 12th and 13th centuries when Genghis Khan and his followers united all the Mongolian tribes here and marched towards the areas in most of Asia and Eastern Europe.
Best Visit Time: May – September ( July and August are the best months )
Add: On the banks of Moergele River the New Barag Left Banner 呼伦巴尔市陈巴尔虎旗莫尔格勒河畔
Entrance Fee: free
How to get there: Take shuttle bus from Hailar ( along S201 and 38km )
Opening Hours: 08:00 – 18:00
2. Enhexiang Russian Village 恩和民族乡
Enhexiang Village is the only Russian village (Enhe Russian Ethnic Township) in China with over 400 Russian descendants of the total 900 or some villagers. The Enhe Russian Ethnic Township is located along the east bank of Ergun River (Eerguna River) , about 222km to the north of Hulunbuir city center (Hailar).
Enhexiang Village is on the transitional area between Hulunbuir Grasslands and the forest. The main reason to go to Enhe Village is to enjoy the local culture and visit the grassland on the mountain slope west of the village.
June and September is the best time to snap the fabulous pictures of the sheep and oxen grazing at ease on the grasslands. The sheep and oxen appear partly hidden and partly visible due to the thin mist.
The Enhe Russian Ethnic Township is awash with flowers around June 10 while in September this typical grassland and forest transitional area presents a charming landscape – golden yellow birch trees and the Xingan pine trees. The soft lights in the early morning and in the evening, plus the mobile mist on the surface of the slope, guaranteeing you a great candid photo opportunity.
3. Shiwei Town (Shiweizhen) 室韦
Shiwei ( or Shiweizhen) is a border town in the northeast of Ergun City (Eerguna City). It is on the east bank of the Ergun River (Eerguna River) and abuts Russia. Shiwei is inhabited mostly by the Chinese-Russian descendants.
Check out Shiwei Travel Tips for more information.
Shiwei is one of the cradles of Mongols. Now it is a beautiful town with multi-ethnic groups including Mongols. It was once listed as one of top ten most beautiful townships in China.
The town and its surrounding villages feature the Russian style in terms of architectures and living habits. Stay overnight in a traditional Russian style wooden house ( Mukeleng House) is a top choice for many tourists.
Best Visit Time: May – September ( July and August are the best months )
Add: Shiwei, Ergun City, Hulunbuir 呼伦巴尔额尔古纳室韦镇
Entrance Fee: free
How to get there: Take bus from Hailar to Ergun City, then take bus from Eerguna to Shiwei
Hire a car or van from Hailaier to Shiwei ( 160km, 4 hours )
Opening Hours: All year
4. Linjiang Village, Shiweizhen 室韦镇临江村
Linjiang Village is under the jurisdiction of Shiweizhen Town, Ergune City of Hulunbuir. Linjiang Village is 10 km from Shiweizhen Town, 174 km from Ergun City, and about 300 km from Hailar (Downtown of Hulunbuir City).
Linjiang Village is on the east bank of the Ergun River (Eerguna River) and abuts Russia with many the Chinese-Russian descendants.
The village features the Russian style in terms of architectures and living habits. Stay overnight in a traditional Russian style wooden house ( Mukeleng House) is a top choice for many tourists.
Check out my another article Road Trip from Ergun to Linjiang Village for more travel information.
Through years’ tourism development, no longer a pristine village, but Linjiang Village is still a laid back escape from the hustle and bustle of the big cities with charming rape- seed flowers, wheat fields, grassland and Russian style life.
You have a good sunrise shot at the East Mountain while sunset shot at the South Mountain. If you are going to shoot the sunrise, you don’t need to get up early due to the fact that Linjiang Village is usually misty and foggy in the early morning and the mist will disperse after 7:00am.
The best time to photograph the fields and village is at the almost end of the dispersed mist. The great view of the rape-seed flowers fall on early July till July 20. In autumn, around September 15 each year, put up overnight in Linjiang Village to shoot the beautiful wooden houses and yellow birch trees.
5. Moerdaoga National Forest Park 莫尔道嘎国家森林公园
The Moerdaoga National Forest Park is the first national forest park in the Greater Khingan Range (Greater Xing’an Mountain ) within Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
It is the biggest national forest park of its kind in China. “Moerdaoga” literally means that “Set out for battle and Ride your horses” that was legendarily said by Genghis Khan who tried to integrate the tribes.
Check out Moerdaoga Travel Guide for more information.
The forest park abuts the Hulunbuir Grassland on the south, the Erguna River on the north, filled with old and tall trees and numerous streams and rivers. The park is within the administration Moerdaoga Town of Ergun City.
Best Visit Time: May – September ( July and August are the best months )
Add: Moerdaoga Town, Ergun City, Hulunbuir 呼伦巴尔额尔古纳莫尔道嘎镇
Entrance Fee: RMB130
How to get there: Take bus from Hailar to the Park ( Daily one bus 8 hours)
Take overnight train from Hailaer to Moerdaoga Town ( 10 hours )
6. Aoluguya Reindeer Village 敖鲁古雅鄂温克民族乡
Aoluguya Reindeer Village is officialy known as Aoluguya Ewenki Ethnic Township. The town is inhabited by the Ewenki people, the only hunting tribe left in China which still keeps the habit of raising reindeers.
They came from Siberia over three hundred years ago and have been living in the dense primeval forest and surviving on herding reindeers.
Check out Aoluguya Travel Guide for more information.
People would like to walk around the town and visit the Aoluguya Ewenki Ethnic Reindeer Museum and primary tribes and handicrafts workshops.
Best Visit Time: May – September ( July and August are the best months )
Add: Aoluguya Township, Mangui Town, Genhe City, Hulunbuir 呼伦贝尔根河市满归镇以北约17公里敖鲁古雅乡
Entrance Fee: RMB80
How to get there: Take bus from Hailar to Ergun, then connect bus for Aoluguya ( 260km to the northeast of Hailaer )
Take train from Hailaer to Mangui Town, connect bus for Aoluguya
7. Ergun City （Eerguna）额尔古纳
The legendary city of Ergun is located on the northern area of Hulunbuir Prairie and on the right bank of Ergun River with an area of 28,400 km2.
Check out Ergun Travel Guide for more information.
It was the hometown of Genghis Khan (1162-1227), who united all the tribes and started to conquer most of Asia and Eastern Europe.
Best Visit Time: May – September ( July and August are the best months )
Add: 130km to the northeast of Hailaer District of Hulunbuir
Entrance Fee: Free
How to get there: Take bus from Hailar to Ergun (130km to the northeast of Hailaer)
8. The Erguna Wetland Scenic Area 额尔古纳湿地景区
The Erguna Wetland Scenic Area, originally known as Genhe Wetland, has an area of 126,000 hectare , the largest wetland in Asia, about 3km to the west of Ergun City. The Ergun Wetland is scattered around the forest and the grassland with many types including marshes, shrub swamps, swamp forest, open bogs and moss.
Best Visit Time: May – October
Add: Xishan, Ergun City, Hulunbuir 呼伦贝尔额尔古纳市西山
Entrance Fee: RMB65
How to get there: Take bus from Ergun
9. Manzhouli City 满洲里
Manzhouli is the largest border city in Inner Mongolia. It abuts Russia in the north, approx. 192km to the west of Hailaier (the city center of Hulunbuir). Manzhouli has the largest border crossing in China. The National Gate ( Guo Men ) is 9 kilometers to the west of Manzhouli Downtown.
Check out the following three articles for more information:
Night View of Manzhouli City
Architecture of Manzhouli
Top 10 Attractions in Manzhouli
Manzhouli is a port city of comprising the folk customs of the three countries including China, Russia and Mongolia, a blend of Chinese and Western cultures. The City is rife with unique buildings of Russian, Mongoian and Chinese styles.
10. Hulun Lake 呼伦湖
Hulun Lake, also known as Dalai Hu, and Hulun Nur in Mongolian. this massive lake pops out of the landscape 36km south of Manzhoul, China’s fifth-largest lake.
Hulun Lake is located near the National Highway No.301 on the route from Hailar to Manzhouli. You can visit Hulun Lake either from Hailar or Manzhouli. The lake itself is under the jurisdiction of Manzhouli City, but it actually lies in the area surrounded by Manzhouli, New Barag Left Banner and New Barag Right Banner.
Check out Hulun Lake Travel Tips for more information.
The Hulun Lake is an ideal summer resort in terms of cool climate, beautiful scenery and fresh air. If you come here in summer, you are able to participate in many activities such as boating on the lake, fishing on the lake shore, sunbathing, bird watching. You can also have a bite of the local all-fish feast with numerous delicious and nourishing dishes of fish.
Entrance fee: RMB 20
Opening Hours: 8:00 – 18:00
How to get there: Hire a taxi from Manzhouli ( RMB200 return)
Add On
Sunrise Glow over Hulunbuir Grassland
Top 10 Places for Photography in Hulunbuir
How to visit Hulunbuir Grassland
Top 10 Attractions in Hulunbuir
Hulun Lake Travel Tips
World Anti-fascist War Hailar Memorial Park
Road Trip from Ergun to Linjiang Village
Ergun Travel Guide
Aoluguya Travel Guide
Moerdaoga Travel Guide
Shiwei Travel Tips
Wusu Langzi Lake （Tips, Photos & Map)
Dujuan Lake in Aershan National Forest Park
Beihu Park Skyline at Night in Manzhouli
Night View of Manzhouli City
Architecture of Manzhouli
Top 10 Attractions in Manzhouli
Tip: Hassle-free Hulunbuir Guided Tours
If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for guided tours to Hulunbuir Grassland, Inner Mongolia:
Beijing Hulunbuir Classic Loop 6 Day Tour
Beijing Hulunbeier Folk Culture 4 Day Tour
Beijing Yinchuan Alxa Highlight 7 Day Tour
3 Day Beijing Shangdu (Xanadu) Tour
4-Day Beijing Xilinglo Glassland Shangdu Mongolia Culture Tour
Inner Mongolia Tour
Mid-Inner Mongolia Tour (Hohhot, Baotou, Ordos)
East Inner Mongolia Tour (Xanadu,Wulan Butong, Xilinhot, Chifeng)
Northeast Inner Mongolia Tour (Hulunbuir)
West Inner Mongolia Tour (Alashan “Alxa” League)
Hohhot Tour
Hohhot Highlights & Grassland 3 Day Tour
Hohhot Highlights & Grassland 2 Day Tour
Further Readings
Top Places to Visit in Inner Mongolia
Top 10 Attractions in Hohhot
Best Time to Visit Hohhot
Meidaizhao Temple
How to go to Hohhot from Beijing
Top Souvenirs in Hohhot
Hohhot Taxi: Hohhot Taxi Fares, Tips and Phones
Baotou Taxi: Baotou Taxi Fares, Tips and Phones
Ordos Taxi: Ordos taxi Fares, Tips and Phones
What to see in Hohhot, what to do in Hohhot
Top 10 Attractions in Alxa League
Heicheng Historic Site in Ejin Banner (Tips, Photos & Map)
Guai Shu Lin in Ejin Banner, Inner Mongolia (Tips, Photos & Map)
Populus Forest in Ejin Banner (Tips, Photos & Map)
Badain Jaran Desert (Tips, Photos & Map)
Top 10 Attractions in Chifeng
Xanadu Sites Museum
Jinlianchuan Grassland
Wulan Butong Grassland
Asihatu Stone Forest
Gong Geer Grassland
Duolun Travel Guide
Xanadu Travel Guide – Shangdu Travel
How to visit Asihatu Stone Forest
Xi Wuzhumuqin Grassland
Any questions, just drop a line.