Back from suffering in Baotou, really don't recommend coming in June

🌿🐎🏞️🍖✨ Baotou! This "Steel City on the Grassland" is absolutely fascinating! On one side lies the poetic grasslands of Chilechuan, on the other is hardcore industrial scenery, with the Yellow River gurgling right through the middle~ June in Baotou brings sunny but not stifling days, and when the cool evening breeze hits, you'll feel like breaking into a Mongolian dance on the spot! Below is my battle-tested guide after stepping in pitfalls, feasting on meat, and chasing sheep - keep it handy~ 🌈 3-Day Adventure Itinerary Day1: Grassland + Tibetan Buddhism Exploration 🌅Morning: Rush to [Saihantala Urban Grassland] (Free!), Asia's largest urban grassland is no exaggeration! Rent a tandem bike (¥50/hour), chase free-roaming sika deer, and snap photos worthy of Windows wallpapers! 🍜Noon: Head straight to [Beitou Shaomai] (Gangtie Street branch) for lamb and onion shaomai - 8 pieces per liang (50g), with wrappers so thin they're translucent! Dip in Shanxi aged vinegar for an explosive burst of flavor! 🏯Afternoon: Drive 1 hour to [Wudangzhao Monastery] (Free for gaokao students!). Red walls and golden roofs against blue skies, spin prayer wheels clockwise, and discover stories of three lifetimes in the murals~ 🌌Evening: Stay at [Shangri-La Hotel] with rooms overlooking the nighttime grassland view. Soak in the tub imagining yourself as a grassland princess! Day2: Alpine Meadow + Great Wall Challenge ⛰️Morning: Charge up [Chunkun Mountain] (Free for gaokao students!). This 2,340m alpine meadow in June becomes a sea of golden lotus flowers, with plank walks making you feel like strolling on clouds! 🍲Noon: Enjoy [Guyang Stewed Dish] at the foothill - fried potatoes, braised pork, and glass noodles simmering in a copper pot, with carb-loaded happiness! 🛤️Afternoon: Visit [Qin Great Wall National Cultural Park] with free shuttle buses! From Wanglong Ridge trail, gaze down at millennium-old earthen walls coiling like dragons between mountains - utterly awe-inspiring! 🌃Evening: Explore [Baotou Gold Street], claim 10 game silver notes (gaokao student perk!) for souvenirs and kebabs. Neon lights over ancient blue-brick alleys create serious time-travel vibes~ Day3: Industrial & Artsy Fusion Day 🔩Morning: Check out [Northern Weapons City] (Free for gaokao students!), climb into real tanks for photos - military buffs will scream! 🎨Noon: Visit [Baomian 1958] Cultural Park, a retrofitted textile factory turned arts district. Vintage cafes and craft shops will have you snapping nonstop~ 🚤Afternoon: Create Yellow River stone paintings at [Yellow River Ballad Scenic Area], then feast on freshly caught stewed carp by the river - fish so tender it falls apart at chopstick touch! 🌟 Must-Do Checklist 1️⃣ Saihantala Urban Grassland: Free! Horse riding (¥100/lap), archery, deer feeding. Sunset at Aobao Hill with orange skies will take your breath away~ 2️⃣ Wudangzhao Monastery: Among Tibet's four major monasteries, with exquisite murals. June 15th ceremonies draw massive crowds! 3️⃣ Chunkun Mountain: Summer retreat! Wildflowers peak before July. Bring jackets for windy peaks, and don't miss the Sky Mirror photo spot~ 4️⃣ Beitou Shaomai: Gangtie Street branch serves the authentic stuff. Lamb and onion filling so good you'll lick fingers, perfectly paired with brick tea! 5️⃣ Baotou Gold Street: Ming-Qing style architecture. Night market offers yogurt cakes and sugar twists. Spend ¥100 get free Nanhai Wetland tickets! 🏨 Accommodation Picks [Shangri-La Hotel] is Baotou's most luxurious! Floor-to-ceiling grassland views, Mongolian milk tea breakfasts, and live horsehead fiddle performances at night bars. Budget option [Qingshan Hotel], a municipal reception property, offers garden courtyards from ¥300+ with home-like service! 🚌 Transport Tips Taxi flagfall ¥7 downtown. Grassland trips recommend chartered cars (¥400/day). Bus #5 to Saihantala, #10 to Northern Weapons City. ⚠️Avoid: Cheap train station hotels without elevators - luggage hauling will make you cry! 🍜 Foodie Strikes 1️⃣ Yellow River Grilled Fish: Freshly killed carp with crispy skin and tender flesh, cumin aroma blending with the river's boldness~ 2️⃣ Copper Pot Stew: Fried meatballs soaking up broth, cabbage cooked to melt-in-mouth softness, with soothing bubbling sounds! 3️⃣ Zhamengmeng Flower Soup: Flaxseed-oil fried flowers create aromatic sour-spicy broth so good it inspires poetry! 4️⃣ Stone-grilled Lamb Chops: Signature dish at Gacha Mongolian Restaurant, juicy chops with salty milk tea will intoxicate you~ 5️⃣ Intangible Cultural Heritage Tea Soup: Apricot-colored rice porridge from dragon-spout copper pots, with brown sugar and raisins - sweetness transports you to old Baotou! 💸 Expense Breakdown Shangri-La ~¥800/night, meals ¥50-80/person, chartered car ¥400/day. Most attractions free - ¥1500 total lets you live as grassland nobility for 3 days! ✨🐑🌄🚲🔥 Baotou is utterly addictive! Days chasing sheep on grasslands, nights gnawing lamb chops under stars, even the wind smells of freedom~ Final rant: Grassland UV is brutal - I skipped sunscreen and returned dark as Mongolian boots! (Worth it though!)