Hohhot Travel Guide

Basic information Phone area code: 0471 Hohhot Tourism Bureau Complaint Telephone: 0471-4608315 Inner Mongolia Tourism Administration Complaints Tel: 0471-6282653 Medical treatment Hohhot First Hospital Address: 150 South Second Ring Road, Yuquan District, Hohhot City Tel: 0471-5281235 Hohhot Zhongmeng Hospital Address: […]

Basic information

Phone area code: 0471
Hohhot Tourism Bureau Complaint Telephone: 0471-4608315
Inner Mongolia Tourism Administration Complaints Tel: 0471-6282653

Medical treatment

Hohhot First Hospital
Address: 150 South Second Ring Road, Yuquan District, Hohhot City
Tel: 0471-5281235

Hohhot Zhongmeng Hospital
Address: No. 29 Wenhuagong Street, Huimin District, Hohhot
Tel: 0471-6935602

Destination overview

Destination sketch

Hohhot, the capital of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in northern China, lies between Yinshan Mountain and the Yellow River.

Beliefs and taboos

It is the most important city in Inner Mongolia and is home to 36 different ethnic groups. Notable among these are Mongolian, Han, Manchu, Hui, Tibetan, Dawoer, Elunchun, Ewenke and Korean.

Culture

They are unconstrained and warm-hearted people as they treat others warmly and politely. They greet everyone they meet during their travels even they do not know each other. To present hada which represents holy and auspice, and to hang it onto the guest’s neck means that they consider their guests are very distinguished. The guests should bend forward as a way to express their gratitude.

When visitors go to a Mongolian’s home, they will be treated very well by being given wine. But they must fully respect their hosts’ customs such as: they will not step on the threshold, sit beside the niche of Buddha, and touch children’s heads, etc. They admire fire and water so guests should not dry their feet or boots on the stove, nor should they wash or bathe in the river, as it is holy and clean in their eyes. In the Mongolian culture, colors are significant. At a Mongolian funeral, red and white should be avoided, whereas during their festivals, black and yellow should not be used.

Celebrity

Genghis Khan

He was the founder and first Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death. He came to power by uniting many of the nomadic tribes of Northeast Asia. After founding the Empire and being proclaimed “Genghis Khan”, he launched the Mongol invasions that conquered most of Eurasia. Campaigns initiated in his lifetime include those against the Qara Khitai, Caucasus, and Khwarazmian, Western Xia and Jin dynasties. These campaigns were often accompanied by large-scale massacres of the civilian populations – especially in the Khwarazmian and Western Xia controlled lands. By the end of his life, the Mongol Empire occupied a substantial portion of Central Asia and China.

Local Festival

Nadam Fair

Nadam means ‘entertainment or game’ in Mongolian and Nadam Fair is the annual traditional pageant for Mongolians held in summer during which period the grass is green and the livestock stout and strong. In history, Nadam Fair was held for large-scale sacrificial activities and to pray for blessings from Manito. Now, activities like wrestling, horseracing, and archery (the three skills all Mongolian men should master) are the primary role of the fair. Besides, track and field sports, tug-of-war, basketball and volleyball matches are relatively new additions making the fair even more interesting. The fair finishes with a bonfire party during the night when the young people singing and dancing.

Best Travel season

Hohhot belongs to the temperate arid and semi arid continental monsoon climate with four distinct seasons. Significant temperature variations occur between day and night. The average annual temperature is 6 C (42.8 F). It is cold in winter with an average temperature of -10 C (14 F) and hot and rainy during summer with an average temperature of 15 C (59 F) to 26 C (79 F). The best time to pay a visit is from April to October, while the best time to go to the grassland is from middle July to early September as the weather is pleasant at that time.

Consumption level

travelling in the city of Hohhot, the budget is 200-350 yuan per day, mainly determined by accommodation. For a meal average of RMB 40 per person, you can eat a very light meal in the city centre. If you set your schedule in advance, you can also enjoy a discounted rate for some hotels.

Practical information

Hohhot Tourism Bureau
Address: 12th Floor, Urban Construction Building, Xinhua East Street, Hohhot
Tel: 0471-4606517
Www.zgbfly.gov.cn

Inner Mongolia Tourism Administration
Address: No. 63 Xinhua Street, Hohhot
Tel: 0471-6965978
Www.nmgtour.gov.cn

Intercity traffic

Aircraft

Hohhot Baita International Airport,HET
Www.hhhtbtjc.com

Bus
Take the 97 bus to the city center, two-way departure
Operating hours: Summer 6:10-21:00, Winter 6:10-20:00

taxi
Take a taxi to the city, the price is about 35 yuan.

Airport bus
West Railway Station – Baita Airport
Departure time: 5:40 in the morning, and every hour between 7:00 and 21:00
Ticketing Location: Long-distance bus terminal exit left
Location: Station West Bus Station Square, next to the bus stop
Ticket price: 10 yuan

Zhaojun Hotel – West Railway Station
Departure time: Every half-hour between 10:00 and 22:00
Location: next to the airport bus ticket station
ticket: RMB 10

Train

Hohhot Railway Station
Address: 41 East Street Station, Xincheng District
Arrival way: take 1, 2, 5, 7 road up
Tel: 0471-2243222

Long-distance bus

Hohhot Coach Station
Arrival method: take the 1, 2, 7, 24, 32 to reach the ticket office
Tel: 0471-6293757

Hohhot Tongda Coach South Station
Address: 65 Ordos Avenue, Yuquan District, Hohhot City
Arrival method: take the 1, 27, 31, 59 road up
Tel: 0471-5954997

Traffic in the city

Bus

Hohhot has nearly 20 bus lines centered on the downtown area, which leads to various parts of the city.

Taxis

Since October 2014, the taxi starting price in Hohhot has been adjusted to 8 yuan (two kilometers), and the unit price is 1.5 yuan/km. You can also count miles before you set off and try to discuss with the taxi driver a good price before you get in.

Attractions

Inner Mongolia Museum

Exhibitions of the flora and fauna and history of (Inner) Mongolia from the stone age until modern times, as well as on minerals and mining, space exploration, and dinosaurs. Although not all captions are in English there is still a lot of information available And it’s not difficult to understand the exhibitions.
Address: No. 2 Xinhua Street, Hohhot
Arrival method: Take the 1, 5, 13, 21, 22, 24, 34, 303 roads or take a sightseeing bus at Xinhua Square and get off at the Inner Mongolia Museum Station.
Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 in summer and 10:00-16:00 in winter, closed on Tuesdays

Tomb of Princess Zhaojun

The resting place of Han princess who voluntarily married a nomad Hun chief to secure peace. She is attributed with the ability to perform miracles. Also contains a small but interesting museum about the Huns including English captions.
Address: Dahei River, 9 km south of Hohhot Old Town, Hohhot City, Taohua Township. How to get there: Take the 44 public road, the fare is 1.5 yuan, about half an hour
Opening hours: Summer 8:00-18:00, Winter 9:00-17:00 Tickets: 35 yuan
Explanation: 30 yuan for 10 or less, 40 yuan for 11 to 20, 50 yuan for 20 or more people

Gegentala Grassland

Gegentala Grassland is to the north of Hohhot, within the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. It is the largest and a unique scenic spot bearing the Mongolian ethical features of China. In Mongolian ‘Gegentala’ means a summer resort or the place of grazing in summer. On the grassland, the weather is cool and the natural scenery is fascinating. With thriving grass and abundant water, the green of the grassland reach out as far as your eyes can see. Colorful wild flowers and flocks of sheep that look like masses of cloud Make the scene absolutely beautiful.
Tickets: 60 yuan

Xilamuren Grassland

Given visited many historic sites and climbed several famous mountains, are you eager to experience grassland life? Thus Xilamuren Grassland should be a good choice!

Lying about ninety kilometers (about 56 miles) north of Hohhot, Xilamuren Grassland is the first grassland tourist attraction opened in Hohhot. Xilamuren means ‘yellow water’ in Mongolian.

The best time to visit it is in summer and autumn. At this time of year, the pleasant climate, the blue sky and white clouds, the rolling grass, the wandering flocks and herds, the passionate herdsmen and their Mongolian food will undoubtedly leave you With a deep impression. During the Nadam Festival held every summer, tourists can enjoy a series of different activities, including camel riding, horse racing, wrestling, archery, a camp fire party and singing and dancing. You can even take part in some of The competitions that you are interested in. A big surprise is probably waiting for you!
Tickets: 60 yuan

The Great Mosque

The Great Mosque, which is situated in Tongdao South Street of Hohhot, is the oldest and largest of mosque built during the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 AD) after throngs of the Hui Muslim Minority migrated from Xinjiang to Mongolia The mosque was built up in the reign of the Emperor Kangxi and was renovated and expanded several times in the reign of Emperor Yongzheng and Emperor Qianlong.
Address: North-east corner of South Street, Huimin District
Tel: 0471-6391363 (Huhmo Mosque Islamic Democratic Management Committee)

Dazhao Temple

Dazhao Temple, ‘Wuliang Si (Infinite Temple)’ in Chinese, is the oldest building and the largest temple in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia. Locally, people typically refer to it as the Silver Buddha Temple (Yinfo Si) for it is here that there Is a rare silver silver statue of Sakyamuni that measures 2.5-meter-high (8.2-foot-high).
The construction of the temple was completed in 1580 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and it is therefore the oldest Lamaist Buddhist temple in Inner Mongolia. There was a major reconstruction in 1640 although much of the original architectural style was retained.
Dazhao Temple owns its fame to a visit by the third Tibetan Dalai Lama in 1586, when he came to dedicate the Silver Buddha statue. As a consequence Hohhot became a religious center for people from all over Mongolia who came to worship. Another notable event in The temple’s long history was a visit by Emperor Kangxi during the early part of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
Address: Dazhaoqian Street, Yuquan District, Hohhot
How to get there: Take the 6,38,42,58,59 Dazhao Station and get off
Opening hours: 8:00-18:30, July to September every year is the tourist season
Tickets: Free

Xilituzhao Palace

Xilituzhao Palace is a key cultural protection unit of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. It is located in the north of Stone Lane, Yuquan District, Hohhot. It is about 100 meters (328 feet) away from the famous Dazhao Temple. The palace is the largest Lama temple in Hohhot.

Xilitu, means ‘Holy Seat’ in Mongolian. It was built in the reign of Emperor Wan Li of Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) for Dalai Lama III and Dalai Lama IV to commemorate the Lamas. Xilituzhao Palace was originally quite small, but later on, in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), it was renovated and expanded to its present scale.

The temple was quite grand and unique in architectural style. It remains intact despite being weathered by wind and rain for 400 years. The layout of the whole architectural complex is the typical traditional Han style. The buildings cover an area of 5,000 sq meters (5,979 sq yards).The whole architectural complex stands in a symmetrical order. With a mountain gate and a main hall standing in an axis, side halls, storehouses and pavilions, bell and drum towers symmetrically stand in the wings. The main hall consisting of a sutra hall and a Buddha worshiping hall is the main structure of the Xilituzhao Palace. It is a Tibetan style wooden structure, with walls decorated with colored glazed brick. The roof is covered with green glazed tiles. The Buddha worshiping hall was damaged in a fire though the sutra hall preserves its original condition.
Address: North end of Shitou Lane, Yuquan District, Hohhot City, only 100 meters away from Dazhao, walking distance
Arrival method: Take the 6,38,42,58,59 Dazhao Station and get off
Opening hours: 8:30-18:00
Tickets: 5 yuan

Five Pagoda Temple

Five Pagoda Temple, also called Jingangzuo Sheli Baota, seated in Wuta Jie, the southeastern part of the old town, and is a miniature temple built in Indian style. Originally the temple was used by followers and monks as a stuppa for relics and was, up until the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 AD), a part of a larger complex, the Ci Deng Temple (Ci deng si). It is one of the only remaining parts of the original Ci Deng Temple compound located in the Old City of Hohhot. It stands amongst the ruins of old courtyard homes, which are being torn down to make way for new apartment buildings and a new way of life.
Address: No. 48, Back Street, Wuta Temple, Southeast of Old City, Hohhot
Arrival method: You can walk on the way to visit Dazhao, Xilizhaozhao and Xiaozhao sites. You can also take bus 1 and get off at Armed Police Hospital station.
Opening hours: 8:00-18:00
Tickets: 10 yuan

Itinerary

Xilamureng Grassland – Puhui Temple – Gegentanga Grassland

Food

Roasted whole sheep, a traditional and unique dish, used to be a privilege enjoyed only by Mongolian kings due to the special and complicated cooking method.

Roasted mutton leg is derived from roasted whole sheep. The leg is the most delicious part of the sheep and requires less time to roast than the whole sheep

shouba rou (boiled mutton eaten with hands) is more popular among herdsmen.

Shaomei are steamed dumplings with minced mutton. Shaomei used to be for breakfast only but now has become a must in many eateries and homes.

Fried sheep tail
All-fish banquets
Dairy products

Accommodation

Within 300, you can choose a nice three-star hotel in Hohhot. If you want to experience the local customs, you can also choose the youth hostel, usually the price is less than 100 yuan.

Shopping

Inner Mongolian carpet is made of local wool, colored with mineral and plant biased dyes and hand woven. The main categories include natural-colored, archaized, Han Dynasty, and artistic tapestry. In addition, there are various cushions.
Cashmere is a rare raw material for textile. Cashmere from Inner Mongolia is world famous. So is camel hair, which can be made into woolen cloth and carpet.
Mongolian knife is a daily article and a status symbol as well. All will look down on a man without his knife. The blade is made of steel while the handle is made of ox horn and red wood. The Camel-shaped knife is particularly worth mentioning. The camel body is made of redwood or birch while the handle is made from ox horn and camel bone. However, before your purchase any knife, consult with your airline as to whether knife is allowed packed in your luggage.

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