6 Days Inner Mongolia Authentic Nature & Dynasties Culture Tour from Chengde

Day 1 Chengde Arrival & Chengde (L)

Highlights of today: Chengde Mountain Resort, Putuo Zhongcheng Temple

Welcome to Chengde, a city in northeastern Beijing most known for the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site - Mountain Sort & its Outlying Temples. Upon arrival, your private tour guide and driver will pick you up at the arrival hall of the airport / railway station in Chengde and then take you to explore its landmark sites - Chengde Mountain Resort and Putuo Zongcheng Temple.

Chengde Mountain Resort, a famous royal summer resort of Qing Dynasty that has been evaluated as one of China’s Four Famous Gardens & one of Three Greatest Ancient Architectures and a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site with Eight Outer Temples around. Built between 1703 to 1792 for a total 89 years by Kangxi and Qianlong Emperors for temporary stay during autumn hunting, the resort is a huge complex consisting of scenic areas of palaces, administrative and ceremonial buildings, gardens and different natural landscapes. Many emperors of the Qing Dynasty spent nearly half a year staying here, processing government affairs and enjoying summer holidays. Kangxi and Qianlong Emperor even named 36 scenic spots each to express their great affection for it.

Putuo Zhongcheng Temple is a component of World Cultural Heritage with Chengde Mountain Resort. The temple, located near the resort, was built to celebrate Qianlong Emperor’s 60th birthday and his mother Empress Dowager Chongqing’s 80 birthday. Modeled after the Potala Palace in Tibet, this Tibetan Buddhist temple cluster is also known as “Little Potala Palace”. Walk along the stone steps to the flat-roofed white oblong towers spreading on the hillside and finally get to the majestic Great Red Palace to see colorful pray flags and catch a panoramic view of the “Little Potala Palace” and Mountain Resort and Qingchui Peak (Hammer Rock) nearby.

After the sightseeing, be escorted to your hotel in Chengde downtown, and your guide will help you check in. Have a good rest.

Arrival ideas: Chengde Puning Airport has domestic flights from Shijiazhuang (1h), Shanghai (4.5h), Xian (2h), Tianjin (1h), Guangzhou (5h), etc. Besides, Chengde also has high speed trains from Beijing (1hr), Changchun (3.5hrs), Harbin (4.5hrs), Shenyang (2.5hrs), Dalian (4.5hrs), Shijiazhuang (2.5hrs), etc. It takes 3-4 hours from Beijing to Chengde by car.

Nightlife ideas: go to enjoy the evening show of "Grand Ceremony of Kangxi" which fully demonstrates the historical scene of the heyday of the Qing Dynasty, and expresses the brilliant life of Emperor Kangxi.

• Imperial Palace in Chengde Mountain Resort
• Beatiful Lake and Ancient Pavilions, Archways in the Mountain Resort
• Putuo Zongcheng Temple - the little Potala Palace

Day 2 Chengde - Bashan Grassland (B, L)

Highlights of today: Saihanba National Forest Park

This morning, you will drive about 3 hours to Mulan Weichang (Mulan Paddock) which is believed to be the most beautiful part of Bashang Grassland. It was the largest royal hunting garden in China where Kangxi, Qianlong and many great emperors of Qing Dynasty used to led their princes, ministers and armies to hunt here every year, known as "Mulan Autumn Hunting". The most beautiful scenery is not necessarily in a certain spot but on the road when you drive on the vast grassland, along the lakes, rivers, birch forests, and occasionally pass through small deserts, large sheet of wild flowers, groups of horses, and so on.

You will arrive at the resort around noon time. After lunch, go to explore Saihaba National Forest Par which is the most highlighting part of Bashang Grassland. Photographers praise it as "paradise". There is a big cluster of rivers, lakes and wetlands in the forest park, surrounded by dense forest and green hills. You will stop at the most famous Moon Lake and Seven-star Lake to soak in the tranquil scenery and breathe fresh air, also walk leisurely to the combined zone of alpine meadow grassland and virgin forest in Baihuaping (White Birch Valley) and get inspired by the story of how workers of three generations converted a barren land into a vast forest in Saihaba Forestry Station.

After enjoy the beautiful sunset on the grassland, go to your hotel and stay over the peaceful night.

• Seven-star Lake - most beautiful lake in Bashang Grassland
• Saihaba National Forest Park in July - a world of gree

Day 3 Bashan Grassland - Wulan Butong Grassland (B, L)

Highlights of today: Wulan Butong Grassland

Go to enjoy the magnificent sunrise on the grassland if you don’t mind getting up around 4~5 a.m. This morning after breakfast, you will go to explore Wulanbutong Grassland which boasts beautiful grasslands, lakes, sandy land, wetlands, forests, flowers and wild animals, and most of them are well-preserved. In summer, you can indulge yourself into the blue sky, white clouds, green grass and cool wilds. If you come to Wulanbutong during autumn, you will be greeted by a world of colors. In winter, the grasslands and hill are covered in silver and white, which is favored by the photographer greatly. Because of its stunning landscape, many film and television crews have also used Wulanbutong Grassland as a popular location for filming. Here you can also feel authentic Mongolian ethnic customs, and visit many ancient battlefield sites.

Start your exploration from Red Hill Military Horse Ranch whose beautiful scenery and unique landscape lie among prosperous grassland, lovely lakes, stunning hills as well as big groups of perky horses, then move on to Film Exterior Center, European Scenic Zone, North Valley, Princess Lake and General Lake (Jiangjun Paozi) which represents you a picturesque scroll of exterior of diverse natural wonders. After the happy time, stay overnight in the hotel on Wulanbutong Grassland.

• Golden Wulanbutong Grassland in September
• Red Mountain Military Horse Ranch in August

Day 4 Wulan Butong - Zhenglan Banner - Xilinhot (B, L)

Highlights of today: Site of Xanadu, Cymbidium Valley, pingdingshan Volcanic Geopark, Xilingol Grassland Nature Reserve

This morning, your guide and driver will meet you at your hotel and then take you to discover the Site of Xanadu in Zhenglan Banner of Xilingol League with 2.5 hours’ driving (140 km driving distance). Built in 1314, The Site of Xanadu was the first capital of the great empire Yuan (1271-1368), the largest empire in world's history. This grassland capital was once “The Heart of the World” attracting envoys, missionaries and merchants of all nations to come. It also once shock the world with its glorious and exquisite palaces, gardens and waterways. According to Marco Pole's travel notes, he described it as a palace of marble and other handsome stone with gilt halls and chambers… Historians have praised the ruins of this capital as comparable to the ancient Italian city of Pompeii. You will follow the footsteps of Marco Pole and the historians to trace its ancient glory. The visit includes a tour to the Site of Xanadu Museum for the up-close admiring of the vivid models and sacred relics unearthed here. After the culture exploration, you can rent a bicycle (optional activity needs extra payment) in the scenic area to travel around or spend your time wandering in the nearby charming Jinlianchuan Grassland with colorful windflowers.

Then, drive northward for about 2 hours to the Cymbidium Valley (or Willow Gully) in Huitengxile Natural Botanical Garden. The purple cymbidium all over the mountains, which can only be enjoyed in here and Australia, will certainly please your eyes and soul. And the gigantic windmills standing on the grasslands everywhere make more layers to the scenery. Let's indulge in the wonderful flowers and windmills world.

Take a short visit there, and then drive further north for half an hour or so to the Pingdingshan Volcanic Geopark. While approaching, you will find 10+ huge but strange mountains standing shoulder by shoulder, all of which has unique flat heads instead of pointed hilltop. Welcome to the otherworldly volcanic world! Located in the vast grassland region, Pingdingshan Volcanic Geopark offers you a front-row seat to the striking volcanoes, rolling black lava fields and volcanic tuff left over from volcanic eruptions about ten thousand years ago. Follow the scientific investigation plank road to climb up to one of the volcanic mountains, and then you will get more breathing views of the volcanoes popping up in the prairie.

Then, continue driving to explore Xilingol Grassland Nature Reserve after about 30 KM and 40 minutes' driving. This nature reserve was listed as a member of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 1987. The landmark site - Xilin Jiuqu with nine winding turns once attracted numerous photographer to come and create great images. Though the river turns disappear because of water storage, there is a huge lake waiting for your sightseeing.

After the visiting, be escorted to your hotel in Xilinhot. Enjoy a good sleep!

Optional Night Show: After night falls, you can enjoy a large-scale indoor live-action drama named Mongolian Horse in this China's Horse Capital. The show has 11 splendid chapters to introduce you the fierce battles, eternal valor of the Mongolian and the epic story of the Mongols and their horses. The show is usually performed from 19:40-20:50. If you are interested, please let your travel consultant know at least 2 days in advance, and then he or she will arrange a ticket for you.

• The Site of Xanadu Museum
• Site of Xanadu
• Pingdingshan Volcanic Geopark
• Amazing Statues in The Site of Xanadu
• Beautiful Cymbidium Valley (or Willow Gully)
• Jinlianchuan Grassland
• The Amazing Mongolian Horse Performance

Day 5 Xilinhot - Asihatu - Reshuitang (B, L)

Highlights of today: Beizi Temple, Erdun Aobao Park, Da-Da Route, Asihatu Stone Forest, Re-A Route, Huanggangliang National Forest Park

Today after breakfast, you will first visit Beizi Temple in the city. Beizi Temple, or called Chongshan Temple, is one of the four most sacred temples in the entire Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Built in 1742, Beizi Temple has a relatively long history of about 280 years. Its architectures combine the styles of both Mongolia and China, which is very impressive. You will stroll around this large temple cluster to admire the magnificent and elegant buildings with large scale of carved beams, painted columns, stone lions and murals reflecting the history and life of the Mongolian nation. After the temple exploration, you will visit the famous Erdun Aobao (a rock pile site for worshiping and sacrifice for Mongolian people) atop the back hill of the temple. Erdun Aobao is composed of 13 rock piles, each of which has its own symbolic meaning. You can take walks around the aobaoes to get blessings. Here, you will also get an amazing panorama view of Xilinhot City and Beizi Temple.

Next, drive to Asihatu Stone Forest for about 3.5 hours along the popular scenic Da-Da Route (135 kilometers). It is one of the “three favorite self-driving routes in Inner Mongolia” and the “most beautiful grassland road in China”, which is also compared to the “Route China 66”. Open your heart and give a big hug to the wide grassland crossed by the gray highway under the clear sky decorated by marshmallow clouds and say hello to those happy lambs and cows grazing on the prairie. Also, the world only sand spruce forest at Baiyin Aobao is another highlight on your exciting driving way.

After your arrival, visit Asihatu Stone Forest (or Asihatu Stone Circle). Meaning precipitous rocks in Mongol, Asihatu presents the typical undulating topography on the rolling mountains covered by lush grassland with steep surroundings. The remote ice glacier exterior has been eroded after centuries to form the diverse strange and interesting forms dotted on the emerald carpet. Take a leisure stroll at such a magic land of stone pillars, pagodas, walls, etc. You will find some look like a pile of giant books, crepe cakes, a turtle, a giant bird, a fairy lady, a big cruise, etc. so much to thumb up to the nature creator.

Next, drive along Re-A Route down south to Huanggangliang (1.5 hours, 48 kilometers). Re A Route (Reshuitang - Asihatu) takes you to travel along the picturesque gallery of grassland and forest with rural life pace and animal vitality, especially during the late summer and autumn period when all the grassland and various trees change into splendid yellow, golden and orange. That is a hard-won moment for sightseeing and the most relaxing travel mood.

After 1.5 hours’ driving, visit Huanggangliang National Forest Park. Huanglianggang (altitude: 2,036 meters) is the highest peak of the Greater Khingan and is featured with quite luxurious plantations of natural forest, white birches, populus, mixed coniferous broad leaved forest, and upland meadow for a satisfying visual feast. In summer, the endless green and emerald colors give you the pleasant cool feeling. While, autumn is the most beautiful time of Huanggangliang when the rolling mountains and meadows turn so resplendent hues like a wonderful oil painting. It is so enjoyable no matter driving through the rich wonderland or sitting on the peak for an overlook.

Then, continue the scenic driving southward (40 minutes) to Reshuitang Town which is famous for hot springs and check in at your hotel. Have a nice sleep!

• Gonggeer Grassland in Summer
• Asihatu Stone Forest
• Da-Da Route, China Most Beautiful Grassland Road (Summer)
• Beizi Temple
• Re-A Route in Autumn
• Huanggangliang National Forest Park Autumn View

Day 6 Reshuitang - Chifeng Departure (B, L)

Highlights of today: Yulong Sand Lake

After breakfast this morning, your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel and then escort you to Yulong Sand Lake with about 2.5 hours’ driving distance. It is domestically famous as the filming place of two Chinese movies. The best feature of Yulongshahu is the 14,000 mu (9.3 square kilometers) wide lake embodied in the endless Bolongke Desert which is a part of Horqin Tibba. Take your time walking around to admire the azure lake view and hiking on the soft desert to appreciate the lush plantations on the hills, strange rocks, wetland, various statues on the sand, and so on. If you like, you can take the optional activities such as sand sliding, sand motoring, camel riding, off-road driving, sightseeing train riding, etc. for more fun experience in the desert. (optional activities need extra payments)

After the visiting, be escorted to Chifeng airport or railway station to catch your flight / train to the next station or home. Tour ends!

• Yulong Sand Lake Scenery
• Yulong Sand Lake Camel Riding