InfoseekChina — Hohhot Travel Guide
🔍
草原
🌿 Inner Mongolia — Travel Guide

Hohhot
呼和浩特

The Green City — Capital of Inner Mongolia

Where the boundless grasslands meet ancient temples, Mongolian nomadic traditions blend with Han Chinese culture, and the spirit of Genghis Khan still echoes across the steppe. China's most surprising frontier destination.

🗺️ 40.82°N, 111.65°E 📏 Elev. ~1,050m 👥 3.1M Population ✈️ 2h from Beijing 🏖️ Best: June–Sept
2,300+Years of History
17,200km² City Area
1,000+km² Grasslands
8Ethnic Groups
40+Flight Routes

🌿 Why Visit Hohhot?

Hohhot (呼和浩特) — meaning "Green City" in Mongolian — is the capital of Inner Mongolia and one of China's most underrated destinations. It's the gateway to vast, unspoiled grasslands, ancient Buddhist temples with centuries of Mongolian heritage, the legacy of Wang Zhaojun and Genghis Khan, and a cuisine unlike anywhere else in China. Just 2.5 hours by high-speed train from Beijing, it punches well above its tourist profile.

📋 Quick Facts

Chinese Name呼和浩特 (hū hé hào tè)
Meaning"Green City" in Mongolian
ProvinceInner Mongolia Autonomous Region (capital)
Population~3.1 million (metro)
Area17,200 km² (city area)
Elevation~1,050 m above sea level
Coordinates40.82°N, 111.65°E
Area Code0471
Time ZoneCST (UTC+8)
Best TimeMay–October (especially Jul–Sep)

🌡️ When To Go

❄️
Winter
−15°C
Dec–Feb. Bitterly cold, icy. Dramatic snow landscapes. Low crowds.
🌸
Spring
5–15°C
Mar–May. Cool & windy. Grasslands turn green. Some sandstorms.
☀️
Summer
18–28°C
Jun–Aug. ✅ Peak season. Lush grasslands, Naadam Festival, best weather.
🍂
Autumn
5–18°C
Sep–Nov. Golden grasslands, cool crisp air, beautiful colours. Excellent.

📜 History

~340 BC — Warring States
King Wuling of Zhao constructs the Great Wall and ancient city in the region. First recorded settlement over 2,300 years ago.
386–557 AD — Northern Wei
Xianbei groups establish a capital at Horinger County — the first capital city on the northern grassland, called Shile.
1581 — Ming Dynasty
Tumed Mongolian leader Altan Khan constructs a city in Yuquan District and names it "Hohhot" (Green City) in Mongolian. Later renamed Guihua.
1737 — Qing Dynasty
Emperor Qianlong builds Suiyuan — a garrison city northeast of Guihua. The two cities are eventually united as "Guisui."
1954 — Modern Era
Hohhot becomes the capital of the newly established Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and officially reclaims its Mongolian name.
Today
A major cultural, economic and transportation hub with a booming dairy industry (伊利 Yili & 蒙牛 Mengniu are headquartered here), growing tourism, and expanding high-speed rail links.

💡 General Information

  • Visa: Standard Chinese visa required. 72/144-hour transit visa-free for many nationalities through Hohhot Baita Airport.
  • Currency: Chinese Yuan (CNY / ¥). ATMs widely available. Alipay and WeChat Pay are ubiquitous; bring cash as backup for grassland areas.
  • Language: Mandarin Chinese is the main language. Mongolian script seen on all signage. Limited English in restaurants and shops outside hotels.
  • Safety: Very safe for tourists. Standard travel precautions apply. Inner Mongolia grassland tours are generally well-organised.
  • Internet: VPN required to access Google, WhatsApp, Facebook, etc. Download before arrival. Local SIM cards (China Mobile, China Unicom) readily available at the airport.
  • Health: Tap water not safe to drink — use bottled water. Standard travel insurance recommended. No vaccinations required beyond standard China travel advice.
  • Electricity: 220V / 50Hz. Type A/C/I sockets. Bring adapters for UK/EU/US plugs.
  • Tipping: Not customary in China. Service is not tip-based.

🌟 Hohhot Highlights at a Glance

CategoryMust-Do
🏛️ History & CultureDazhao Temple (the oldest Buddhist temple), Five-Pagoda Temple, Inner Mongolia Museum (free entry), Zhaojun Tomb, Great Mosque, Xilituzhao Palace
🌿 NatureXilamuren Grassland (closest), Huitengxile Grassland (most pristine), Gegentala Grassland, Kubuqi Desert / Whistling Bune Bay (sand dunes), Laoniuwan Yellow River Canyon
🍖 FoodHand-served mutton, roast whole lamb, Mongolian hot pot, milk tea (奶茶), shaomai, suutei tsai (salty tea), Mongolian pizza, yogurt desserts
🛍️ ShoppingCashmere goods, Mongolian silver jewellery, hand-woven carpets, camel-hair products, leather goods, horsehair crafts
🎪 FestivalsNaadam Fair (horse racing, wrestling, archery) — July/August. Aobao Worship Ceremony. Inner Mongolia Tourism Naadam (annual summer event)
🏨 StayMongolian yurt (ger) overnight in grasslands — the most memorable experience
Sights & Activities
Temples, museums, cultural sites, and experiences in and around Hohhot city
The Grasslands
Inner Mongolia's boundless prairies — the soul of the Hohhot region

🌿 The Great Grasslands of Inner Mongolia

The grasslands (草原 cǎoyuán) surrounding Hohhot are the region's crown jewel. Ride horses, sleep in yurts, watch the Milky Way sprawl across enormous skies, and experience Mongolian hospitality first-hand. Best June to September.

Hotels & Accommodation
From luxury city hotels to authentic Mongolian yurt camps on the steppe
Food & Drink
Mongolian cuisine, Inner Mongolian dairy culture, and the best restaurants in Hohhot
Shopping
Cashmere, silver jewellery, carpets, and Mongolian crafts — what to buy and where
Getting There & Getting Around
Flights, trains, buses, and local transport in Hohhot
Travel Resources & Blogs
Useful websites, travel blogs, official tourism sites, and planning tools
Destination Map
Hohhot city and key attractions — 40.8220°N, 111.6520°E
📍 Hohhot (呼和浩特), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China  |  Coordinates: 40.8220°N, 111.6520°E  |  Elevation: ~1,050m above sea level

📍 Key Coordinates

PlaceLat / Long
Hohhot City Centre40.8220°N, 111.6520°E
Dazhao Temple40.7996°N, 111.6539°E
Five Pagoda Temple40.7994°N, 111.6646°E
Inner Mongolia Museum40.8378°N, 111.7390°E
Zhaojun Tomb40.7071°N, 111.6798°E
Grand Mosque40.8097°N, 111.6558°E
Xilamuren Grassland41.3233°N, 111.2296°E
Hohhot Baita Airport40.8524°N, 111.8237°E

🗺️ Getting Around the City

  • Metro (地铁): Hohhot Metro has 2 lines covering the main districts. Clean, cheap (~¥2–4 per trip), air-conditioned. Best for city attractions.
  • Taxi (出租车): Plentiful and metered. Flag fall ~¥8. Download DiDi (滴滴) app for ride-hailing — more convenient than flagging in the street.
  • Bus (公共汽车): Extensive network, cheap (¥1–2) but route signs only in Chinese. Use Amap (高德地图) or Baidu Maps for navigation.
  • Bicycle (骑行): Shared bikes (Meituan, Hello Bike) available across the city. Great for the old town area.
  • Grassland Trips: Rent a car or join a tour from your hostel/hotel. Most grassland camps are 1–3 hours' drive from the city.
  • Navigation Apps: Use Amap (高德地图) — works better than Google Maps in China. Download offline maps before going to grasslands.