How to Get to & Get around Inner Mongolia 2023

There are over 13 airports in the whole Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. However, the most frequently used airports for visitors are Hohhot Baita International Airport (IATA: HET), Hulunbuir Dongshan International Airport (IATA: HLD), Baotou Donghe Airport (IATA: NGB), Ordos Ejin Horo International Airport (IATA: DSN), Manzhouli Xijiao International Airport (IATA: NGB) and Chifeng Yulong Airport (IATA: CIF).

For tourists from abroad, Hohhot Baita International Airport and Hulunbuir Dongshan International Airport are the most popular. Two airports share the most frequent flights from overseas countries and cities like Mongolia, Japan, Russia, Thailand, Vietnam, Korea and so on. Hohhot Baita International Airport is also the best transfer airport for first-time travelers to Inner Mongolia from other cities in China, like Beijing (2.5 hours), Shanghai (2 hours), Xian (2.5 hours), Guangzhou (1.5 hours), Chengdu (1.5 hours), Kunming (2.5 hours), Guilin (2.5 hours), Chongqing (2 hours), etc. For those who have a clear purpose and only want to visit the Hulunbuir Grassland, can take flights from Beijing (2.5hrs), Hohhot (2.5hrs), Harbin (1.5hrs), etc. and reach Hulunbuir Dongshan International Airport.

Get to Hohhot by Flight

Hohhot Baita International Airport (HET) is the largest aviation hub in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. It is located in the northeastern part of Hohhot city, about 17 km away from the city center, which takes 0.5 hours by car. Visitors can take flights from more than 90 international and domestic cities. The international cities and regions include Hong Kong, Taipei and Ulan Bator in Mongolia, etc. And the domestic cities include Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Guangzhou, Harbin, Chengdu, Kunming, Guiyang, etc.

Check more about Hohhot Baita International Airport >>

Hohhot Railway Station and Hohhot East Railway Station are all frequently used train stations in Hohhot, with both high speed trains and normal trains available. Hohhot East Railway Station (呼和浩特东站) has more high-speed and bullet trains stop by and close to the airport. However, Hohhot Railway Station (呼和浩特站) is more closer to the city center and main attractions, including Dazhao Temple, Inner Mongolia Museum, Five-pagoda Temple, the Great Mosque in Hohhot and Xilituzhao, etc.

By riding a bullet train, you can get from/to Hohhot to Beijing (2~3 hours), Zhangjiakou (around 1.5 hours), Datong (2.5~3 hours), Taiyuan (around 5 hours), Zhengzhou (8.5 hours), Jinan(9.5 hours), etc. Besides, you can travel from/to Hohhot to other popular tourist places in Inner Mongolia, like Baotou (1~1.5 hours), Ordos (1.5~2 hours), Ulanqab (0.5~1 hour), etc.

Check more about Hohhot Train Stations | Hohhot High Speed Trains >>

Visitors can travel around Hohhot by metro, taxi and car. Hohhot has 2 metro lines. Metro Line 1 passes through Hohhot Baita Airport and Hohhot East Railway Station, etc. and Metro Line 2 passes Hohhot Railway Station and Hailiang Plaza, etc. And it is usually easy to find a taxi in downtown Hohhot. However, if you are planning to visit grasslands, the best way to get there is by booking a Hohhot grassland tour package with private car service included. Even the nearest grassland - Xilamuren Grassland is about 93 km (1.5~2 hours’ drive) away from Hohhot and the primitive alpine meadow - Huitengxile Grassland is farther away, about 110 km (2 hours’ drive).

Check more about Hohhot Transportation: How to Get to/around Hohhot >>

Hot Hohhot Tours:

☛ 3 Days Best Hohhot Grassland Tour with Huitengxile Landscape

☛ 4 Days In-depth Hohhot Xilamuren Tour with Grassland Activities

Get to Baotou by Flight

Baotou Donghe Airport, known as Erliban Airport, is the major airport around Baotou City. It’s about 23 km away from Baotou downtown (30~40 minutes’ drive) and 50 km away from Wudangzhao Temple - The Oldest Buddhist Temple in Inner Mongolia (1 hour’s drive). The airport now offers flights to/from Beijing (1.5 hours), Shanghai (3 hours), Xian (2.5 hours) and Chengdu (2.5 hours), etc. Check more about the Beijing Baotou Flight Schedule >>

Get to Baotou by Train

High-speed/bullet trains from Beijing (3.5~4 hours) /Taiyuan (5.5~6 hours) /Zhengzhou (around 8.5 hours) stop at both Baotou Station and Baotou East Station. Visitors may also take high-speed trains here to reach Hohhot (1~1.5 hours) and Ulanqab in the province. Besides, there are also normal trains from/to Beijing (10.5~13.5 hours), Hohhot (1.5~3 hours), Ordos (1~2.5 hours), Shanghai (26.5~27 hours), Xian (10.5~12 hours), Chengdu (22~30 hours) and Wuhai (3.5~6 hours), etc.

Baotou Railway Station is about 7 km away from the city center and the Baotou East Railway Station is about 23 km away from the city center.

Check more about How to Get from Hohhot to Baotou >>

Visitors can easily travel around Baotou by taxi or bus. However, as the airport, train stations and most popular attractions in and around Baotou, like the Kubuqi Desert, Xilamuren Grassland, Wudangzhao and Meidaizhai, etc., are not situated in the downtown area, the most convenient way to travel around the city is by taking a private car.

Check more about Baotou Transportation: How to Get to/around Baotou >>

Hot Baotou Tours:

☛ 2 Days Baotou Highlights Tour from Hohhot

☛ 4 Days Xilamuren Grassland & Kubuqi Desert Tour from Hohhot

☛ 6 Days Inner Mongolia Bests Discovery Tour

The nearest airport to Badain Jaran desert is the Alxa Right Banner Badain Jaran Airport (about 90 km, takes about 1 hour’s drive). But the airport currently only operates one air route from Bayanhot Airport. Therefore, it’s quite inconvenient to fly to Alxa Right Banner directly. You are more recommended to get to Jinchang Jinchuan Airport, Zhangye Ganzhou Airport or Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport, etc. and transfer to a car to reach the desert.

Get to Badain Jaran Desert by Train

The most popular and recommended gateway city to Badain Jaran Desert is Zhangye in Gansu. The train stations in Zhangye are merely 220 km, 3 hours’ drive to Badain Jaran Desert and they are well-connected with many destinations along the Silk Road, such as Xian (6~18 hours), Lanzhou (3~8.5 hours), Dunhuang (4~8.5 hours), Jiayuguan (1-4.5 hours), Xining (1.5~2 hours), Urumqi (7~18.5 hours), Turpan (6~16.5 hours).

Get to/around Badain Jaran Desert by Private Car

Due to the remote location and inefficient public transport, all travelers are highly suggested travelling with a local professional and reliable travel agency. We China Disvocery offers an all-inclusive  Badain Jaran Desert tour package covering a well-organized tour itinerary, worry-free car transfer, local friendly tour guide and satisfactory arrangements of accommodation, dining and other tour-related services. No matter whether you want to try Jeep safari, camel riding, hiking, sand sliding or desert camping, etc. We can arrange everything according to your own preference.

Check more about Badain Jaran Desert Transportation: How to Get to/around Badain Jaran Desert >>

Hot Badain Jaran Desert Tours:

☛ 3 Days Badain Jaran Desert Real Essence Tour with Jeep Safari

☛ 5 Days Zhangye Danxia Badain Jaran Desert Geography Miracles Tour

☛ 8 Days Badain Jaran Desert Panorama Trekking Tour

Xilamuren Grassland, the closest grassland to Hohhot, has the best facilities amongst all the grasslands in Inner Mongolia. Even though it’s under the jurisdiction of Baotou city (192 km, 3 hours’ drive), Xilamuren Grassland itself is closer to Hohhot city (93 km and 1.5~2 hours’ drive).

The best way to get to the grassland is by taking a private car. Travelers can get rid of the hustle of public transportation and troublesome navigation and fully enjoy the tour itself. For independent travelers, there are long-distance coaches leaving from Baotou and Hohhot Bus Station to Xilamuren Grassland.

Hot Xilamuren Grassland Tours:

☛ 4 Days In-depth Hohhot Xilamuren Tour with Grassland Activities

Surrounding by the Jinlianchuan Grassland, the Site of Xanadu was once the capital of the Yuan Dynasty, the largest empire in world history. It is the birthplace of the Yuan Dynasty in ancient China and the Mengyuan culture (Mongolia Culture in Yuan Dynasty). On June 29, 2012, the Site of Xanadu was inscribed on the World Heritage List.

Most visitors to the Site of Xanadu need to get to the Zhenlan Banner (正蓝旗) in Xilingol League first. Zhenglan Banner is about 240 km away from Xilin Gol city (about 3 hours by car), about 400 km away from Hohhot (7-7.5 hours by car) and about 200 km from Zhangjiakou city (3.5~4 hours by car). The banner is well-connected to other places by highway. There is no airport in the area and the nearest train station (Sanggendalai Railway Station) is about 40 km northwest from the scenic area (1 hour by car). There are trains from Hohhot, Baotou, Ulanhot, Hailar, Tongliao, Xilinhot, Chifeng, Changchun, Harbin, etc. that would make a stop at Sanggendala Railway Station.

Booking a tour package including private transfer is the most convenient and comfortable way to explore the site of Xanadu and surrounding highlights.

Hot Site of Xanadu Tours:

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