Departure from Beijing|Xilin Gol Grassland: 20℃ Summer Escape Secret, Volcano and Starry Sky Grassland Guide
Escape the 40℃ heat, unlock the ultimate cool trip across grasslands, volcanoes, and deserts for just over 2,000 RMB per person
🚗 Trip Overview
Route: Beijing → Huitengxile Grassland → Ulanhada Volcano → Xilin Gol Grassland → Xiwuzhumuqin Banner 99 Highway → Keshiketeng Banner → Chengde → Beijing (no backtracking)
Duration: 9 days 8 nights
Best Season: June to August (lush green grass, average daily temperature 20℃)
Cost Reference: Fuel + tolls ≈ 1200 RMB per person, accommodation ≈ 1500 RMB (mainly guesthouses), tickets ≈ 500 RMB
📍 Daily Itinerary Details
Day 1: Beijing → Huitengxile Grassland (stay at Huanghuagou)
- Highlights:
- Huitengxile Wind Farm: Free! Giant wind turbines blending with the grassland, cinematic vibes maxed out📸.
- Huanghuagou Scenic Area: Cable car crossing the canyon (ticket 120 RMB), wait for the grassland sunset in the evening.
- Accommodation: Saishang Mingzhu Hotel (modernized Mongolian yurt rooms, private bathroom, window view of wind turbines)
- Tips: Direct via Jingzang Expressway, 5-hour drive; must-try dinner: hand-pulled lamb + fried millet milk tea!
Day 2: Huiteng → Ulanhada Volcano (stay at the foot of the volcano)
- Must-do activities:
- Volcano No. 5: 20-minute climb to the top, 360° view of the “Mars-like terrain.”
- Volcano No. 6: Rent a spacesuit for photos (80 RMB/hour), dark volcanic rocks look super sci-fi🪐.
- Nighttime bonus: Camp at the crater to watch the Milky Way (clear Milky Way visible in summer).
- Accommodation: Muye Starry Sky Guesthouse (volcano view room, breakfast included, owner provides star photography tutorial)
Day 3: Volcano → Xilin Gol League (stay in Xilinhot)
- Surprises along the way:
- Xizhang Expressway: Cross the Hunshandake Sandland, encounter the rare spectacle of dunes and lakes intertwined.
- Beizi Temple: One of Inner Mongolia’s four major Tibetan Buddhist temples, stunning red walls and golden roofs (free).
- Food: Saiyid Mongolian Restaurant (60 RMB per person): hand-pulled lamb dipped in wild chive flower sauce, milk-cheese stir-fried millet!
- Accommodation: Qingfeng Guesthouse (quiet courtyard in the city, 10-minute walk to Beizi Temple)
Day 4: Xilinhot → Xiwuzhumuqin Banner 99 Highway (stay in Xiwuzhumuqin Banner)
- Legendary route:
- 99 Highway: 60 km grassland sky road, herds of cattle and sheep + winding river = real-life Windows desktop.
- Banlashan Viewing Platform: Free! From the top, the grassland spreads like a green carpet to the horizon (perfect for drone shots✈️).
- Accommodation: Haitang Guesthouse (farmhouse courtyard with shared rooms, 80 RMB per person for 4-person room, bedding smells of sunshine☀️)
Day 5: Xiwuzhumuqin Banner → Keshiketeng Banner (stay in Jingpeng Town)
- Must-visit combo:
- Ashatu Stone Forest: Glacial relic stone formations (ticket 160 RMB), hiking boardwalk feels like entering a Game of Thrones scene⚔️.
- Huanggangliang Reservoir: Hidden free secret spot! Walk the wooden plank road to meet forests and wildflower seas.
- Warning: Food inside the Stone Forest scenic area is expensive, bring your own snacks!
Day 6: Keshiketeng Banner → Chengde Mountain Resort → Beijing
- Return highlights:
- Chengde Mountain Resort: Quick 3-hour visit (ticket 130 RMB), Yanyu Tower recreates the filming location of "My Fair Princess" Shufangzhai.
- Dinner bonus: Chengde’s “Old Three Lamb Soup” with baked flatbread (lamb offal soup 15 RMB, unlimited refills!).
- Arrival time: Chengde → Beijing about 3 hours, recommended to arrive before 9 PM to avoid Beijing traffic jams.
💡 Practical Tips Collection
Transportation and Money-saving Tips
1. Car Rental Guide:
- Pick up an SUV in Beijing (Tank 300 about 300 RMB/day), high chassis suits grassland roads.
- One-way drop-off fee ≈ 800 RMB, or choose to return in Chengde and take high-speed train back to Beijing (time-saving and convenient).
2. Fuel Tip: Gas stations are scarce north of Xilinhot, fill up whenever fuel is half tank or less⛽️!
Accommodation Golden Rules
- Grassland guesthouses: Book 1 month in advance! Peak season (July-August) Mongolian yurts triple in price, choose near scenic spots balancing convenience and cost-effectiveness.
- Avoid pitfalls: Be cautious choosing yurts deep in the grassland (inconvenient toilets/mosquitoes), prioritize rooms with private bathrooms and stable hot water.
Food Recommendations
✅ Must-eat:
- Xilinhot: Saihan Mongolian Restaurant (milk tofu pancake + sand onion buns)
- Xiwuzhumuqin Banner: Freshly cooked hand-pulled lamb at herders’ homes (about 80 RMB per jin, dip in salt to enjoy original flavor)❌ Avoid: “High-priced whole roasted lamb” at scenic entrances (better to book with herders for freshly slaughtered small lamb, about 120 RMB per person, more authentic)
Packing List
- Temperature warrior: Windbreaker (10℃ mornings and evenings), sun hat + arm sleeves (UV rays peak at noon).
- Life-saving essentials: Mosquito repellent (mosquitoes dense in July), offline maps (grasslands often have no signal).
💰 Expense Breakdown
Item Cost (per person) Money-saving tips
Car rental + fuel 1200 RMB Share SUV with 4 people, split fuel cost
Accommodation 1500 RMB Mix of guesthouses + budget hotels
Tickets 500 RMB Must-visit volcano/stone forest, others choose free viewing platforms
Food 800 RMB Eat more at herders’ homes + supermarket supplies
Total 4000 RMB Off-season can be reduced to 3000 RMB
Real Experience:
- The wind turbine array at Huiteng Grassland is more photogenic than expected, wearing spacesuits at the volcano is cheesy but really fun!
- Xiwuzhumuqin Banner 99 Highway is the MVP of the whole trip, every frame looks like a National Geographic shot📸.
- Starting from Beijing avoids the crowds on Zhangbei Grassland Sky Road, enjoy the wild beauty of Xilin Gol, worth every drop of fuel! Route advantage: avoids peak season crowds in Hulunbuir, cost-effective, perfect for first-time grassland self-driving beginners~
This summer, step on the gas and escape the sauna heat, the grassland breeze will blow away all your worries🌿✨