Hohhot Activities: Visiting Grasslands, Naadam Festivals, Yurts, Foods, Museums...
Hohhot, one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization, is not only a famous historical and cultural city in Inner Mongolia, but also a pearl of grassland. By visiting the ancient temples, pagodas, tombs and museums, you can absorb the history of Hohhot. While, the particularly amazing grasslands like Xilamuren Grassland, Gegentala Grassland and Huitengxile Grassland, provide you with magnificent scenery of a wide green "sea" decorated with flocks of sheep, cattle, and horses... Besides, there are also many interesting grassland activities worth trying, such as riding horses, staying overnight in yurts, joining local festivals, tasting special dishes, watching Mongolian archery and wrestling performances, etc. See the automatic production process of liquid milk will also offer you quite a different and special travel experience.
To help you have a better plan for your Hohhot tour in 2025, here we list all interesting Hohhot activities, with useful information and suggestions like the best places to visit and festival holding time included!
Top Recommended Hohhot Tours:
☛ 5 Days Classic Inner Mongolia Tour (Hohhot / Huitengxile Grassland / Kubuqi Desert / Ordos)
☛ 3 Days Best Hohhot Grassland Tour with Huitengxile Landscape (Hohhot / Huitengxile Grassland)
☛ 6 Days Inner Mongolia Bests Discovery Tour (Hohhot / Ulanqab / Baotou / Ordos)
No.1: Visit Top Grasslands near Hohhot in Inner Mongolia
Huitengxile Grassland in Ulanqab
Xilamuren Grassland
• Recommended Grasslands to Visit: Xilamuren Grassland; Huitengxile Grassland; Gegentala Grassland, Hadad Highland Pasture...
Speaking of Inner Mongolia, the first picture that comes to people's minds must be the boundless grasslands. The sky is clear and high; clouds are shading the endless green blankets; grass tips are shining with golden light and swaying in the wind; stout cattle and sheep are bent down to eat without a break and herdsmen are galloping their vigorous Mongolian horses on the vast grassland. There are many grasslands with splendid scenery mentioned above around Hohhot and each of them also has their own characteristics and highlights. For example, Xilamuren Grassland, the most popular and the nearest grasslands to Hohhot with well-established facilities and a number of grassland yurt resorts; The largest and unique Mongolia scenic spot which bears the Mongolia ethnic features of China is the Gegentala Grassland. It is also praised as “a summer resort” on the grasslands. Compared with the grassland here, perhaps the imposing scene of the yurt phalanx is more attractive; Pay a visit to Huitengxile Grassland, you can see the white windmill array, the largest wind power plant in Asia, spreading out more than ten kilometers on the grassland. It is also one of the world's three largest alpine grasslands and the closest grassland to Beijing in Inner Mongolia. Check more about Top 10 Grasslands in Inner Mongolia >>
Recommended Hohhot Grassland Tours: ☛ 6 Days Inner Mongolia Bests Discovery Tour | ☛ 2 Days Huitengxile Grassland Tour from Beijing by Bullet Train
No.2: Learn the History of Inner Mongolia by Exploring Local Museums
Inner Mongolia Museum
Zhaojun Museum
• Recommended Places to Visit: Inner Mongolia Museum, Zhaojun Tomb, Government Office of Suiyuan General in the Qing Dynasty...
As one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization, Hohhot has a long history and splendid culture. It is the cradle of “shooting on horse in Hu dress (胡服骑射)”, the destination of Wang Zhaojun, the “land of dragon rising” of Tuoba Xianbei Minority and also the place of business exchange in Mongolia in ancient times. Hohhot culture is a typical combination of nomadic culture and farming culture, coupled with the influence of modern civilization, the cultural and historical relics here all reflect the unique characteristics of the earthiness, bold, unrestrained and grand of the northern nations.
The Inner Mongolia Museum (内蒙古博物馆), the Zhaojun Museum (昭君博物馆) and Government Office of Suiyuan General in the Qing Dynasty (绥远将军衙署), etc. are the best places to learn the history and culture of Hohhot.
Recommended Hohhot Tours with Inner Mongolia Museum Visit: ☛ 3 Days Best Hohhot Grassland Tour with Huitengxile Landscape
No.3: Explore Famous Buddhist Temples in “Zhaocheng” Hohhot
The Eight Buddha Pagodas in Dazhao
Sunning Buddha Festival in Dazhao
• Recommended Places to Visit: Dazhao, Five-Pagoda Temple, Xilituzhao...
In the distant grasslands and deserts of Inner Mongolia, spreading a Zhaomiao culture (lamasery culture) with religious and architectural characteristics. After looting, most of the Buddhist temples lost their former glory, and pale in comparison with the temples in Tibet, but carrying the ancient Tibetan Buddhism belief of the Mongolian people. Hohhot becomes the only national historical and cultural city in Inner Mongolia, the Zhaomiao culture (召庙文化) is indispensable. There are overall seven large temples, eight small temples, and seventy-two mini temples in Hohhot, therefore the name of "Zhaocheng (召城)" is not undeserved.
Five-Pagoda Temple (五塔寺) and Dazhao Temple (大召) are the two most famous Zhaomiao in Hohhot. Besides, there are also many worth visiting temples in Hohhot, such as Xilituzhao, which is just across the road from Dazhao; the Temple of Wealth (财神庙) and the Temple of Guanyin (观音庙) in the Antique Block in front of Dazhao; Wusutuzhao (乌素图召) in the northwest corner of downtown; and the Baolhan Pagoda (宝尔汗佛塔), opposite the Guanyin Temple, has become a symbol of the new Buddhist culture in Zhaocheng.
Recommended Hohhot Tours with Zhaomiao Visit: ☛ 5 Days Classic Inner Mongolia Tour
No.4: Participate in the Grand Festivals in Inner Mongolia - Naadam Festival & Aobao Festival
Inner Mongolia Naadam Festival
The Aobao Festival
• Type: Traditional Festival; Minority Festival
• Event Holding Time: The Naadam Festival takes place in July or August; The Aobao Festival is held on May 12th & 13th in the lunar calendar. Contact us to get the real-time information >>
• Activities & Events: Horse Racing; Archery on Horseback; Furious Mongolian Wrestling; Traditional Mongolian Costume; Traditional Worship Event...
Inner Mongolia Naadam Festival (那达慕大会) is the highlight of all the festivals and events that the region holds. It takes place in July or August annually. The word “Naadam” means games or competitions in Mongolian. The festival’s full name is Eriyn Gurvan Naadam, which translates as “three games of men” - horse racing, archery, and wrestling. Women also participate in archery and girls in horse-racing games, but not in Mongolian wrestling. Many places are held at the Naadam Festivals, and the recommended places are Gegentala Grassland, Xilamuren Grassland and Huitengxile Grassland, etc. Learn more about Naadam Festival >>
The Aobao Festival (敖包节) is a traditional worshipping festival in Inner Mongolia. “Aobao” means heaps of stones. Aobao worship involves praying for good weather and safety for both humans and livestock. Aobao is mainly located on top of mountains, and is a pile of stones or clods, with colorful strips or paper hung on top. During the festival, people from far and wide gather at Aobao to take part in worship activities. The participants start adding stones to the Aobao one after another. When it is finished, other activities such as wrestling, singing and dancing are provided.
Recommended Naadam Festival Tour: ☛ 4 Days Inner Mongolia Naadam Festival Tour (Hulunbuir)
No.5: Gallop Horses on the Vast Grasslands and Watch Horse Racing during Local Festivals
Riding Horses on the Grasslands
Horse Racing
• Type: Entertainment, Festival Event
Riding a horse is something you have to experience when you visit Inner Mongolia. It can be experienced in almost all grasslands around Hohhot. But if you are looking for a long-time and great horse riding experiences, you can avoid the scenic spots. There are some independent horse farms dot on the grasslands. While the riding or horse renting price might be higher, the horses are more robust and can gallop in the vast grassland. Moreover, there are also some horse ranches or clubs offering horseback riding, such as the Inner Mongolia Racecourse, etc. Check more about Horse Riding in Inner Mongolia >>
Travelers can climb to the top of the base to get a look at the pagoda themselves, or head to the back of the building where a carved screen includes a rare Mongolia astronomical map which illustrates the zodiac and positions of numbers of stars.
Horsing racing is the most exciting game at the Naadam Festival, and anyone can apply to take part in the competition regardless of his or her age. But in most cases, riders are boys and girls who are 6-13 years old. It will be divided into several age groups: two, three, four and five-year-old horses, adult horses and stallions. The competitions are not held on special tracks, but across the steppe. The distance varies according to the ages of the horses. It can be between 15 and 35 km. After the competitions end, awards will be given to the fastest ten horses, accompanied by songs about the horses.
Recommended Hohhot Tour with Horse Riding: ☛ 5 Days Classic Inner Mongolia Tour | ☛ 4 Days In-depth Hohhot Xilamuren Tour with Grassland Activities
No.6: Live in Mongolian Yurts - Feel the Mongolian Hospitality
Mongolian Yurts
The Hospitality of the Mongolians
• Type: Way of Living
The Mongolian Yurt, called “a vaulted tent” or “felt tent” in ancient times, is a domed pealed tent. And the Mongolian people have their own social customs and etiquettes that are especially imbued with characteristics of honesty, courtesy and hospitality. When a guest enters a yurt, the housewife will present him or her with a bowl of milk tea and with both hands and presents various kinds of dairy products on the table. If you want to fully experience the local customs of Inner Mongolia, you’d better spend a night in the yurts. More details about Mongolian Yurts >>
Recommended Hohhot Tour with Mongolian Yurt Overnight Experience: ☛ 4 Days In-depth Hohhot Xilamuren Tour with Grassland Activities
No.7: Taste Delicious Mongolian Food - Roast Lamb, Mongolia Milk Tea, Shaomai...
Roast Lamb
Mongolia Milk Tea and Dairy Snacks
• Type: Food, Local Dishes
The cuisine in Inner Mongolia is special and well received by most visitors. Do you want to give it a try? Let’s know some first. The recommended specialties include Kumiss, Mongolian Roast Lamb, Mongolia Milk Tea, Finger Mutton, Butter, Shaomai, Buckwheat Flour, etc. Check the Top 10 Food and Cuisines in Inner Mongolia >>
Roast Lamb: It is a traditional Mongolian food, which is specially prepared when a dinner party is held in honor of the guests. The roast lamb, which looks golden red and tastes quite delicious, is served on a square wooden dish.
Kumiss: It is cool, refreshing and with lower alcohol. Summer is the best time to drink Kumiss, the aromatic waves everywhere.
Milk Tea: Mongolians are kind, hospitable people, who like to treat guests to a good table, with a plate of rice in the middle, and butter, milk curd, red sugar and pastries. To wash this all down, a cup of steaming hot milk tea is the preferred accompaniment.
Recommended Hohhot Tour with Local Traditional Cuisines: ☛ 5 Days Classic Inner Mongolia Tour
No.8: Visit the Largest Automatic Liquid Milk Production Base of Yili Group
Automatic Yili Liquid Milk Production Base
Packaging Line of Yili Liquid Milk
• Address: No.8, Jinshan 4th Road, Tumed Left Banner, Hohhot City, Inner Mongolia (内蒙古自治区呼和浩特市土默特左旗金山开发区金四道8号 )
As a large grassland province, Inner Mongolia has sweet milk and all kinds of delicious dairy products. If that's what you're interested in, and if you're looking for something different, why not take a half-day tour to the Yili Liquid Milk Production Base? By visiting the factory, you can intuitively see the whole process of liquid milk from high temperature sterilizing, filling, packaging to warehousing.
As one of the liquid milk production bases with the highest degree of automation and the largest production scale in Asia, almost the whole process of Yili milk processing is completed by machines. Automated STV driverless cars shuttling, strong robotic arms brandishing, and those "robust" production equipment will make you can not help but marvel at the advanced milk production technology here.
No.9: Other Interesting Activities and Special Events on Grasslands - Archery and Mongolian Wrestling
Mongolian Archery
Mongolian Wrestling
• Type: Sports, Festival Event
Archery on horseback is a traditional sports activity of the Mongols. All people could take part in the competition. Each participant shall get his or her own bow, 9 arrows and horse ready before the competition. The 9 arrows will be shot in three rounds. The archer who has shot the most arrows on targets will be the winner. When you attend the festival and watch the archery competition, you can know how skillful the Mongolians on horseback are.
Mongolian style wrestling is another main event in Naadam. People on the grasslands call Mongolian wrestling - "Bok (博克)". The game of Mongolian wrestling is simple and solemn. According to the dress code of the event, the contestants wear tight half-sleeved vests made of cowhide or canvas, aprons made of red, blue and yellow silk at the waist, fat trousers made of 32 or 16 feet of calico, and Mongolian boots or riding boots. The game starts with the melodious and passionate "Uzah" hymns. Competition rules are simple and clear. In Mongolian wrestling, there are no weight classes and no time limit. Competitors are deemed to have lost if they land on any part above the knee.
How to Plan a Hohhot Tour
Best Time to Visit Hohhot: May ~ October, especially in June, July, August and September…
How to Get There: Flights from Beijing (1.5h), Shanghai (2.5h), Harbin (4.5h), Guangzhou (3.5h), etc. and bullet train from Beijing (2.5~3h), Datong (2.5h), etc.
Usually, visitors spend 2~3 days to visit Hohhot, including one day to explore the highlights in the city, like Dazhao Temple and Inner Mongolia Museum, and 1~2 days to have fun at the nearby grasslands, like Huitengxile Grassland or Xilamuren Grassland.
☛ 3 Days Best Hohhot Grassland Tour with Huitengxile Landscape
☛ 2 Days Huitengxile Grassland Tour from Beijing by Bullet Train
If you have 1~2 days more day, you are highly suggested to add Kubuqi Desert into your trip. Kubuqi Desert is one of the best deserts in China. You can enjoy colorful activities there, like riding camels, hiking, playing sands, etc.
☛ 5 Days Classic Inner Mongolia Tour (Hohhot / Huitengxile Grassland / Kubuqi Desert / Ordos)
Feel not enough? You can spend one day more to Ordos to explore the legend of the great Mongolian conqueror Genghis Khan, 1~2 days more to Xilingol to discover the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site - Site of Xanadu, 3~5 days more to Hulunbuir to meet the most beautiful grassland in China and visit fabulous wetlands , forests and Russian Nationality Villages. Have your preferences about Hohhot and Inner Mongolia? Please feel free to tell us your likes and let our experienced travel consultant customize a tour for you!
☛ 6 Days Inner Mongolia Bests Discovery Tour (Hohhot / Ulanqab / Huitengxile Grassland / Baotou / Kubuqi Desert / Ordos)
☛ 5 Days Best Hulunbuir Tour with Grassland Exploration (Hulunbuir)
☛ 6 Days Inner Mongolia Best Desert & Grassland Tour (Hohhot / Baotou / Kubuqi Desert / Hulunbuir)
Travel Hohhot with China Discovery
Hohhot and Inner Mongolia differ a lot with the classic China you know. And it is not an easy job to arrange the daily flight, train and car travel at this relatively vast land. Therefore, travel with a professional travel agency is usually the best way to visit there. We China Discovery know Hohhot and Inner Mongolia a lot and we are experienced in organizing tours to this region. If you need any help, please feel free to contact us! Private cars, one-to-one guide and travel consultant… Everything is only for you and your group or family! The tour is customized by your interest, budget, plan and every special need!
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Recommended Hohhot Tours
Top 3 Hohhot tours chosen by most customers to explore Hohhot in the best way. Check the detailed itinerary, or tailor your own trip now with us.
3 Days Best Hohhot Grassland Tour with Huitengxile Landscape
Hohhot / Huitengxile Grassland / Hohhot
4 Days In-depth Hohhot Xilamuren Tour with Grassland Activities
Hohhot / Xilamuren Grassland / Hohhot
4 Days Inner Mongolia Naadam Festival Tour
Hailar / Hulunbuir Grassland / Ergun / Hailar
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