ERide Across Xilamuren Grassland, Meet Nomadic Families & Explore the Kubuqi Desert

Experience Inner Mongolia through open grasslands, nomadic traditions, Mongolian performances, desert adventures, Buddhist heritage, and Genghis Khan’s legacy. This five-day journey combines cultural encounters with two dramatically different landscapes: endless prairie and sweeping desert dunes.

5 Days Inner Mongolia, North China

Ride Deep into Xilamuren Grassland

Leave the busy sightseeing areas behind and ride horseback into the quieter interior of Xilamuren Grassland, surrounded by open skies and vast stretches of green prairie.

Experience Mongolian Warrior Traditions

At Hongge'er Aobao Scenic Area, watch the large-scale live performance The Legend of Monan, featuring Mongolian horse racing, archery, wrestling, and scenes inspired by 13th-century Mongol culture.

Stay Overnight in a Traditional Mongolian Yurt

Spend a night on the grassland in a traditional Mongolian yurt and experience the atmosphere of life on the Inner Mongolian steppe.

Itinerary quick look

Detailed 5-Day Itinerary

Make this route your own. We will refine every day around your dates, energy level, and interests.

Day 1
Arrival in Hohhot
Arrive in Hohhot, the capital of Inner Mongolia.
Your private guide and driver will meet you on arrival and provide a smooth transfer to your hotel.
The remainder of the day is free for you to relax or begin exploring Hohhot independently at your own pace.
Day 2
Hohhot → Xilamuren Grassland — Horse Riding, Mongolian Culture & Yurt Stay
Travel approximately 2 hours by road from Hohhot to Xilamuren Grassland, where your first full day introduces the landscapes and traditions of Inner Mongolia.
Hongge'er Aobao Scenic Area
Visit Hongge'er Aobao Scenic Area and watch a large-scale live performance bringing traditional Mongolian culture to life.
The show incorporates horse racing, archery, and wrestling, reflecting customs historically associated with Mongolian festivals and warrior traditions.
Horse Riding on Xilamuren Grassland
Continue deeper into the quieter interior of the grassland on horseback.
Ride across the open prairie and experience the scale of Xilamuren away from the more crowded areas, with uninterrupted views stretching across the steppe.
Mongolian-Style Zhama Banquet
In the evening, enjoy a Mongolian-style Zhama Banquet.
Dress in traditional-style Mongolian clothing, taste local dishes, listen to Mongolian string music, and watch traditional dancing as part of the dinner experience.
Overnight in a Mongolian Yurt
Spend the night in a traditional Mongolian yurt on the grassland, experiencing the peaceful atmosphere of the prairie after dark.
Day 3
Xilamuren Grassland → Dalad Banner — Herdsman Family & Wudang Lamasery
Begin the morning by watching the sunrise over the grassland, when the wide landscape is at its quietest.
Local Herdsman Home Visit
Visit the home of a local herdsman for a closer look at traditional grassland life.
Take part in several everyday activities, including:
- Milking cows
- Making Mongolian milk tea
- Feeding lambs
- Talking with the herdsman about life on the prairie
This experience offers a more personal introduction to nomadic traditions beyond sightseeing.
Wudang Lamasery
On the journey toward Dalad Banner, stop at Wudang Lamasery.
The monastery is regarded as one of the four most famous lamaseries in northwest China and offers a cultural contrast to the grassland scenery experienced earlier in the journey.
Continue to Dalad Banner
Travel onward to Dalad Banner in Ordos City.
Staying here places you close to the Kubuqi Desert, allowing convenient access the following morning and helping you enter the desert earlier, before larger crowds arrive.
Day 4
Kubuqi Desert — Full-Day Adventure at Resonant Sand Bay
Today is devoted entirely to the landscapes and activities of the Kubuqi Desert.
Resonant Sand Bay
Visit Resonant Sand Bay, a major desert resort area known for dunes that can produce deep, resonant sounds when disturbed by wind or movement.
The site combines desert scenery with a wide range of recreational experiences.
Desert Activities
Spend the day enjoying the desert at your preferred level of adventure.
The original itinerary lists lighter recreational activities such as artistic gymnastics, aerobics, breakdancing, and beach volleyball, as well as more adventurous options including:
- Desert exploration
- Aerial cableway experiences
- Sand surfing
- Trail bikes
- Other desert sports and activities
This full day gives you time to experience the Kubuqi Desert as more than just a scenic stop.
Day 5
Ordos — Kangbashi District, Mausoleum of Genghis Khan & Departure
Spend your final morning exploring two very different sides of Ordos before departure.
Kangbashi District
Visit Kangbashi District, once widely described as one of China’s best-known “ghost cities” but now developed into a thriving modern urban area.
Explore its spacious contemporary cityscape and distinctive modern architecture.
Mausoleum of Genghis Khan
Continue to the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan.
This ceremonial mausoleum is a cenotaph dedicated to the worship and remembrance of Genghis Khan and provides a final cultural connection to the history of the Mongol Empire.
Departure
After sightseeing, your guide and driver will transfer you to either Ordos Airport or Hohhot Airport, depending on your onward travel arrangements.